Chelsea lineup vs. Port Vale: Predicted XI for FA Cup quarter-final

Chelsea will be without at least six players for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Port Vale at Stamford Bridge.

Head coach Liam Rosenior has confirmed that midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been dropped for the next two matches following comments he made about his future and links with Real Madrid.

Reece James (thigh), Trevoh Chalobah (ankle), Filip Jorgensen (groin), Levi Colwill (knee) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (doping suspended) all remain unavailable for selection, but Jamie Gittens is available after recovering from a thigh injury.

Benoit Badiashile missed the Blues’ bruising 3-0 Premier League defeat at Everton prior to the international break due to illness, but he should be fit to feature in some capacity this weekend.

The Frenchman is a contender to start at centre-back along with Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr and Josh Acheampong, although the latter could be deployed at right-back, with Jorrel Hato potentially starting at left-back.

Rosenior is under pressure to snap a four-match losing streak, but rotation in the midfield and forward positions is still likely, with Liam Delap and Marc Guiu both pushing to lead the line ahead of top scorer Joao Pedro.

Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto could be handed starts out wide, with Estevao Willian potentially given the number 10 role if Cole Palmer is left out of the starting lineup.

Moises Caicedo may also be given a rest, so Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos and Dario Essugo could all battle for starts in deeper midfield positions. Robert Sanchez, meanwhile, is likely to continue in goal.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Acheampong; Tosin, Badiashile, Hato; Lavia, Essugo; Neto, Estevao, Garnacho; Delap