Auricio Pochettino has promised to hand out a number of debuts as Chelsea take on AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup tonight – but among them won’t be new signing Djordje Petrovic.
Petrovic joined Chelsea in a £14million deal from New England Revolution on Sunday but did not receive Football Association clearance to play in time. Robert Sanchez will continue in goal as a result.
Pochettino confirmed at his pre-match press conference that “four or five” players aged between “16 and 17” could be involved with Mason Burstow, Diego Moreira, Eddie Beach and Bashir Humphreys on the bench for Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Luton on Friday night.
Marc Cucurella – a target for Manchester United before Friday’s transfer deadline – could come in for 38-year-old Thiago Silva as Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill complete the back four.
Ugochukwu, Maatsen and Conor Gallagher could be the midfield three with Madueke, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson in attack.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Ugochukwu, Gallagher; Madueke, Maatsen, Sterling; Jackson
Injuries: Mudryk, Chukwuemeka, Nkunku, James, Chalobah, W. Fofana, Broja, Badiashile, Bettinelli
Doubts: Lavia
Time and date: 7.45pm BST on Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
