Head coach Graham Potter has again made changes to his Chelsea XI for Sunday's Premier League fixture at Aston Villa.

With Brentford and Manchester United to follow in less than a week, it was always expected that the Englishman would make alterations for the trip to the West Midlands.

However, there are four surprising changes, one of those coming in the back three with Marc Cucurella taking the place of Kalidou Koulibaly.

With Reece James ruled out until December, it appears that Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be deployed at right wing-back, although it is plausible that Raheem Sterling may instead feature in that role.

Meanwhile, depending on where Loftus-Cheek is used, Mason Mount could drop into a central-midfield role alongside Mateo Kovacic.

Potter has also handed Kai Havertz an opportunity alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in an attack-minded system.

Former Villa youngster Carney Chukwuemeka is on the substitute's bench and could make just his second Chelsea outing.

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Bailey, Ings, Watkins

Subs: Olsen, Sanson, Buendia, Chambers, Nakamba, Bednarek, Coutinho, Dendoncker, Bogarde

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Kovacic, Chilwell; Havertz, Sterling; Aubameyang

Subs: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Jorginho, Zakaria, Pulisic, Broja

Written by
Darren Plant