How Chelsea could line up against Bournemouth

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino will once again be without nine players when the Blues take on Bournemouth in Sunday's Premier League battle at the Vitality Stadium.

The Stamford Bridge medical team were kept particularly busy over the international break, as all of Reece James (thigh), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marcus Bettinelli (knee), Christopher Nkunku (knee) and Romeo Lavia (ankle) will not be ready for the weekend.

Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile are also yet to recover from their thigh injuries in time for the trip south, while Albanian FA president Armando Duka stated that striker Armando Broja should make the bench following his recovery from a severe knee injury, but Pochettino has now affirmed that such a scenario will not happen.

Despite a painful 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break, Pochettino will not be expected to make significant alterations, as Robert Sanchez retains possession of the gloves.

Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill and Axel Disasi can each feel confident of holding their places in a ravaged backline, and the same can be said for Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell out wide.

South American duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez did not train on Thursday as they recover from jet lag, but the two £100m+ midfielders will be expected to return imminently and should have enough time to get back up to speed with their teammates.

While understandably miffed at being snubbed for an England call-up, an in-form Raheem Sterling will be fresh and raring to go down south, where he should link arms with Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson in an untouched XI.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Chilwell; Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson