Frank Lampard is without Emerson Palmieri, Antonio Rudiger and Ruben Loftus-Cheek but the Chelsea head coach has a variety of selection dilemmas ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Southampton.
The first centres on whether to persevere with the three-man defence which helped facilitate Wednesday’s Champions League win over Lille.
The 41-year-old has primarily favoured a back four in Premier League matches and therefore could revert with Fikayo Tomori almost certain to start after receiving his first senior England call-up in recognition of his fine start to the campaign.
Ross Barkley was left out of the matchday squad in midweek after being pictured with police following an alleged altercation with a taxi driver last weekend, but may return if Lampard feels the need to freshen the team up in midfield.
N’Golo Kante’s fitness will be closely monitored having been intermittently available due to an ankle problem.
Reece James made an encouraging Champions League debut but the 19-year-old would still be the most likely candidate to drop out if Lampard changes formations.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is pushing for a start as he steps up his match fitness following five months out while Pedro and Olivier Giroud were on the bench in France but Lampard will find it difficult to leave out his goalscorers against Lille – Tammy Abraham and Willian.
Chelsea predicted lineup (4-3-3): Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Mount.
