Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly has been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League encounter against Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.
The 31-year-old pulled up with a hamstring injury in the second half of the Blues' 2-0 quarter-final first-leg defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Frank Lampard has confirmed that the Senegal international is facing "weeks" on the sidelines.
Carney Chukwuemeka is doubtful with a knock, while Armando Broja remains sidelined with a serious knee issue. However, there were a few positives on the injury front to take from the midweek loss in Spain as Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount and Thiago Silva all returned to the matchday squad after spells on the sidelines, with the latter starting and playing for 76 minutes at centre-back.
Lampard is also able to welcome back Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and David Datro Fofana, who are ineligible to play in the Champions League, and the former will compete with Silva and Wesley Fofana for a place at centre-back in Koulibaly's absence.
Ben Chilwell was shown a straight red card for a cynical foul against Real Madrid, but the England international – who recently signed a new contract at Chelsea – is available for selection against Brighton and could start at either left-back or left wing-back ahead of Marc Cucurella, with Reece James expected to continue on the opposite side.
Lampard has a plethora of midfield options at his disposal, but he could be tempted to name the same trio of Enzo Fernandez, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante in his first XI. However, considering the latter's minutes are being managed having only just recovered from a long-term hamstring injury, one of Mount, Conor Gallagher, Denis Zakaria or Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be recalled.
Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling were both selected to start up front in midweek and will be hoping to retain their places in the first XI, and the duo could be joined by one of Kai Havertz, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Christian Pulisic, Madueke or Aubameyang should Lampard switch formation and name three attackers in his side.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; James, W. Fofana, Silva, Chilwell; Kovacic, Fernandez, Mount; Sterling, Havertz, Felix
Oliver Thomas
