Chelsea line-up: Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi on the bench vs Cardiff

Maurizio Sarri has taken the bold step of only naming Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante among his substitutes as Chelsea take on Cardiff City today.

Despite Chelsea's indifferent Premier League away form this season, Sarri has opted to leave his two key men out of the starting line-up to face Neil Warnock's Bluebirds in Cardiff.

And while Hazard is on the bench, there is still no room for Callum Hudson-Odoi to start - despite the young winger making his full England debut during the international break.

Sarri's team selection ensures that Hudson-Odoi is still yet to start a Premier League game for Chelsea, with the Italian coach option for Willian and Pedro in attack alongside the struggling Gonzalo Higuain.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kovacic, Jorginho, Barkley, Pedro, Higuain, Willian

Subs: Kante, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Caballero, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Christensen

(Action Images via Reuters)

Cardiff XI: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Josh Murphy, Victor Camarasa, Arter, Hoilett, Niasse

Subs: Ralls, Zohore, Reid, Bacuna, Mendez-Laing, Harris, Brian Murphy