Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has dropped to the bench at Newcastle.
In a surprise move, the midfielder drops out, with Reece James and Moises Caicedo in the centre behind a front four of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro.
The Blues’ final match before Christmas is one of the most testing away trips of the league season, and they will again have Liam Delap and Estevao unavailable.
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Both could be ready for their next match against Aston Villa on December 27 but remain sidelined for Newcastle.
Delap is out with a shoulder injury he picked up in the goalless draw at Bournemouth earlier this month, while Estevao was not involved in the 3-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Cardiff City because of a “small muscular problem” which will again keep him out against Newcastle.
Palmer is getting closer to being able to play a full 90 minutes as he slowly works his way back up to full fitness after a lay-off of more than two months due to a groin injury.
Marc Cucurella served a Carabao Cup suspension for the game at Cardiff and comes back into the team.
So has Robert Sanchez, who was rested for that match as second-choice goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen was handed a rare run-out. At centre-back, Maresca pairs Trevoh Chalobah with Wesley Fofana.
Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill all remain absent with longer-term injuries.
Confirmed team news
Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Tonali, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Subs: Ruddy, Murphy, Shahar, Joelinton, Barnes, Willock, Wissa, Elanga, Neave
Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Tosin, Acheampong, Hato, Fernandez, Santos, Buonanotte, Guiu
Injured: Estevao, Delap, Essugo, Lavia, Colwill
Time and date: 12:30pm GMT, Saturday December 20, 2025
Venue: St James’ Park
How to watch: TNT Sport
