By Betsefy
Champions League holders Chelsea could be without up to six first-team players when they travel to Russia to face Zenit St Petersburg in their final Group H game on Wednesday night.
Left wing-back Ben Chilwell and midfielder N’Golo Kante are both ruled out with knee injuries, while versatile centre-back Trevor Chalobah and midfielder Matteo Kovacic are both suffering with hamstring problems.
In addition, Kai Havertz and Marcos Alonso were both forced off with respective ankle and back injuries in the 3-2 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday, and are unlikely to feature in midweek.
With potentially no recognised left wing-back in Thomas Tuchel‘s squad, Saul Niguez could be handed a surprise start, after the German head coach previously suggested the Atletico Madrid loanee could be a “good fit” for this position.
In-form full-back Reece James is also an option to start on the left, which would likely see Cesar Azpilicueta brought into the first XI at right wing-back.
Centre-back trio Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger are expected to start once again, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be handed his fourth successive start in centre-midfield alongside Jorginho.
In attack, Romelu Lukaku – who scored the only goal in September’s 1-0 win against Zenit at Stamford Bridge – or Timo Werner are set to lead the line in attack, with Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Ross Barkley to battle it out for a place in the starting lineup in an advanced midfield role.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, James; Mount, Ziyech; Lukaku
