How Chelsea could line up against Wolverhampton Wanderers

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has a fresh pair of concerns to contend with for Sunday's Premier League Christmas Eve clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

The Blues advanced to the EFL Cup semi-finals in midweek by sinking Newcastle United on penalties, but neither Enzo Fernandez nor Levi Colwill were able to come out for the second half.

Fernandez had to be withdrawn just after the half-hour mark due to a hernia, while Colwill was taken off for Malo Gusto at half time, but he is only believed to have been suffering from fatigue.

Fernandez is set to miss out, but Colwill should be in with a chance of playing, while Noni Madueke, Lesley Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia are all back in full training and could force their way into contention as well.

However, the Blues will still be without all of Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee) and Ben Chilwell (thigh) for Sunday's game.

While Colwill should be fine to operate on the left flank, Pochettino talked up the offensive threat of Gusto after Tuesday's win, so the ex-Lyon man may now threaten Axel Disasi's spot on the right-hand side of the backline.

Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva would therefore be tasked with protecting stand-in goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic, while Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher should act as the midfield duo with Fernandez absent.

Christopher Nkunku is in line to make his Premier League debut this weekend after coming off the bench against Newcastle alongside Mykhaylo Mudryk, who forced the penalty shoot-out with an injury-time leveller.

However, Pochettino may keep Nkunku in reserve once again as Nicolas Jackson leads the line, while Mudryk should now link arms with Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling in the attacking third.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Gusto, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson