Chelsea have been boosted by the returns of Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech for today’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest, with both players on the bench this afternoon.
Blues boss Graham Potter also revealed that Senegal stopper Edouard Mendy has been dealing with a shoulder injury since the World Cup, ruling him out again today.
Mendy missed Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and is absent again here, with first-choice goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga backed up by Marcus Bettinelli.
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“We are not sure about Mendy,” said Potter in his pre-match press conference. “We’ll have to see in the next few days. He has a problem with the bone around his shoulder, that he picked up at the World Cup. He may still need a bit of time.”
Ziyech and Kovacic are both on the bench against Forest having stepped up their respective returns following the World Cup, with Juventus loanee Denis Zakaria keeping his place in midfield after an all-action display to see off Bournemouth.
The injured Reece James is replaced by club captain Cesar Azpilicueta at the back in the only change from the win over Bournemouth.
Chelsea starting XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Jorginho, Zakaria, Mount; Sterling, Havertz, Pulisic.
Subs: Kovacic, Aubameyang, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Ziyech, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Hutchinson, Hall.
Date: Sunday, City Ground, 4.30pm GMT, Sky Sports.
Referee: Peter Bankes.
Injured: James (knee), Kante (hamstring), Fofana (knee), Chilwell (hamstring), Loftus-Cheek (calf), Broja (knee), Mendy (shoulder).
