Earlier this week, Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was selected to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, while N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva both tested positive for the Coronavirus. Although Kai Havertz sustained a nasty-looking finger injury on Wednesday that forced him to join Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and Andreas Christensen in the treatment room, it has not been determined whether or not he will miss this match.
Due to cramps, Cesar Azpilicueta is doubtful for the match, although he would have been unlikely to start given Tuchel’s preference for giving young players such as Harvey Vale, Lewis Hall, and Xavier Mbuyamba the chance to impress him.
Chesterfield:
When it comes to Chesterfield, Rowe is still concerned about defenders Luke Croll and Laurence Maguire – the brother of Harry Maguire – while another rearguard member Gavin Gunning was forced to quit due to exhaustion over the weekend. The ex-Aston Villa teenager Jack Clarke will miss a significant amount of time with a hamstring injury and it is unclear when Jeff King will be able to return to the starting lineup after his recovery from a knee injury.
Jamie Grimes is ready to step in and help out in Chesterfield’s injury-plagued defence if necessary, as striker Kabongo Tshimanga prepares to take over as the team’s captain.
Chelsea vs Chesterfield Probable Playing XI:
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Bettinelli; Mbuyamba, Sarr, McClelland; Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hall, Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic; Vale; Soonsup-Bell, Timo Werner
Chesterfield is unlikely to come up against some of the most talented players Chelsea has to offer, but a combination of fringe and young Blues players should be able to get the job done with relative ease in this match. The visitors deserve enormous respect for surviving the punishing winter spell in such good shape, but Rowe and the company’s FA Cup campaign will almost certainly come to an end here.