Chelsea manager Graham Potter is facing several key decisions for Thursday's Premier League clash with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Long-term absentees Wesley Fofana, N'Golo Kante and Armando Broja remain absent for the Blues, who are expecting to be without Reece James for a few weeks due to his latest knee problem.

On a brighter note, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ben Chilwell are stepping up their recoveries from calf and thigh injuries respectively, but only the former may be given the green light to make the squad here.

With Edouard Mendy still nursing a shoulder problem, Kepa Arrizabalaga will likely continue as the last line of defence, protected by the pairing of Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Marc Cucurella are in no danger of losing their spots out wide amid Chelsea's full-back injury problems, and Denis Zakaria can also feel confident of another start in the middle.

However, Jorginho's place will come under threat from the returning Mateo Kovacic, who contested the World Cup 2022 third-placed playoff with Morocco's Hakim Ziyech and came out on the winning side.

Ziyech's performance off the bench against Nottingham Forest was satisfactory, but Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and the rejuvenated Christian Pulisic should all keep their places in the final third.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a gilt-edged chance at the City Ground on Sunday after replacing Kai Havertz, who did not pose much of a threat himself, so the former may force his way back into contention here.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Kovacic, Zakaria; Sterling, Mount, Pulisic; Aubameyang

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