How Chelsea could line up against Wolverhampton Wanderers

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has conceded that N'Golo Kante will not be available for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers to Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the Premier League.

The Frenchman was absent from the recent defeat to Everton due to an injury which was described as "minor", but it is enough to keep him out of the weekend's game alongside Jorginho.

Ross Barkley and Andreas Christensen both have strong chances of coming back from illness for the clash, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell continue their respective recoveries.

Cesar Azpilicueta may still be wondering how Jordan Pickford kept out his goal-bound effort last Sunday, but the Spaniard should still line up alongside Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva here.

Reece James and Marcos Alonso's spots in the wide areas are not up for debate, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek can expect to link up with Mateo Kovacic in the engine room.

Mason Mount will not expect to lose his place in the final third either, but Christian Pulisic is pushing hard to displace Timo Werner and may be granted a start on Saturday.

However, Romelu Lukaku was left to watch from the bench as Chelsea failed to make the net ripple against Everton, and Kai Havertz should therefore lead the line once again.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic; Havertz