Chelsea could be without as many as seven players for Saturday's Premier League encounter against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge.

Defensive duo Wesley Fofana and Ben Chilwell are the latest names to join a lengthy list of players who are suffering with a hamstring problem – the former was absent from the 3-1 win at Bournemouth last weekend while the latter was forced off with his injury in the final 15 minutes at the Vitality Stadium.

Fofana has an outside chance of recovering in time for the visit of Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but Chilwell may have played his last game for the Blues this season and will join Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Kalidou Koulibaly (all hamstring), Mason Mount (pelvic) and Armando Broja (knee) in the treatment room.

The absence of both Chilwell and Cucurella could see Cesar Azpilicueta handed a start at left-back, joining Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah in a back four.

After scoring against Bournemouth last time out, Conor Gallagher will be hoping to retain his place in centre-midfield alongside N'Golo Kante and Enzo Fernandez, although both Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be pushing for a recall.

Joao Felix is another who will be hoping to force his way back into Frank Lampard's first XI after scoring just two minutes after coming on as a late substitute against Bournemouth, as will Raheem Sterling who scored in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest earlier this season.

Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are three more attacking options available for Lampard, who will decide whether to make changes to the front three of Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Mykhaylo Mudryk that started last weekend.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Badiashile, Azpilicueta; Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic; Madueke, Havertz, Sterling

Written by
Oliver Thomas