Cole Palmer does not feature for Chelsea against Lincoln in the Carabao Cup third round today.
Palmer was substituted in the 21st minute of Saturday’s chaotic Premier League defeat by Manchester United as his groin problem flared up again, and he was always likely to miss the game against third-tier opposition.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LINCOLN VS CHELSEA LIVE!
Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro have been playing through small knocks of late and also do not to start against Lincoln.
Although the former is on the bench after Blues boss Enzo Maresca admitted on Monday that injuries to Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia in midfield limit the possibility to rest the midfielder.
Summer signing Jorrel Hato comes into the Chelsea team against Lincoln. Robert Sanchez is suspended after his early red card at Old Trafford, so deputy Filip Jorgensen steps in again.
Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are not ready to play on Tuesday despite Maresca revealing that returns for the pair are “very close”. They both trained on Sunday as they push towards their respective first appearances of the season.
Marc Guiu is cup-tied having featured and scored for Sunderland in their second round loss to Huddersfield on penalties last month prior to being recalled by his parent club before the summer transfer window closed.
As a result, Alejandro Garnacho makes his first Chelsea start in an attack that also includes Tyrique George and Jamie Gittens.
Levi Colwill, meanwhile, is sidelined for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Confirmed team news
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato, Fernandez (c), Santos, Garnacho, Buonanotte, Gittens, George.
Substitutes: Slonina, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Harrison, Walsh, Estevao, Neto, Mheuka.
