Chelsea will be without as many as nine first-team players for Friday's Premier League clash against newly-promoted Luton Town at Stamford Bridge.
Carney Chukwuemeka scored his first goal for the Blues in the 3-1 defeat at West Ham United last weekend, but he was forced off at half time with a knee injury and has since been ruled out for up to six weeks after undergoing surgery.
Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Armando Broja (all knee), Reece James, Benoit Badiashile (both hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (unspecified) are also in the treatment room, the latter of whom picked up a "minor issue" in training this week.
Mauricio Pochettino is expected to stick with a three-at-the-back system, with Axel Disasi – who scored on his home debut against Liverpool two weeks ago – set to continue in central defence alongside Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill, protecting goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
In the absence of Chukwuemeka, Conor Gallagher could be moved into an advanced midfield role in behind attacking duo Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling, the latter of whom impressed against West Ham despite coming away on the losing side.
Enzo Fernandez could therefore be partnered in centre-midfield by fellow £100m+ man Moises Caicedo, who will be pushing to make his full debut for the Blues after coming on as a second-half substitute against the Hammers. However, fellow new recruit Romeo Lavia is not yet ready to make his first Chelsea appearance and still needs "a few weeks" before he is considered for first-team selection.
Malo Gusto is expected to continue at right wing-back with Ben Chilwell operating on the opposite flank, while the likes of Noni Madueke and Marc Cucurella may have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench for a third successive game.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Chilwell; Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Oliver Thomas
