Chelsea face Hull City at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fifth round tonight and boss Antonio Conte is likely to include a number of fringe players.
Youngsters such as Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi are in the squad, as are academy players Kyle Scott, Dujon Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah.
Conte’s options have been limited by injuries – David Luiz, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Ross Barkley are all unavailable and other players are carrying knocks.
So the Blues line-up tonight could look like this.
Willy Caballero
Chelsea’s second-choice keeper has been deployed in cup matches this season and is set for another outing.
Antonio Rudiger
The German has been in and out of the side but would surely be a safe choice against the Tigers.
Ethan Ampadu
Ampadu, who can also play in midfield, really looked the part at the heart of the Chelsea defence when given a chance. He’s certainly an exciting prospect.
Gary Cahill
With Luiz out, Andreas Christensen recently back after a hamstring injury and Cesar Azpilicueta havin been virtually ever-present, Chelsea’s captain could be one of the senior players involved tonight.
Davide Zappacosta
The recent signing of Emerson Palmieri means giving Marcos Alonso a rest now needn’t involve Zappacosta filling in on the left. The Italian could therefore be given an outing in his favoured right-sided position.
Danny Drinkwater
Drinkwater can provide experience and a calmness in midfield while retaining his match fitness. He seems an obvious choice.
Cesc Fabregas
Youngster Scott is an option, but with Bakayoko and Barkley out it seems likely that either Fabregas or N’Golo Kante will start. Preserving Kante’s energy might be seen as a priority.
Emerson Palmieri
Just back from injury prior to his January move from Roma to the Bridge, the Brazilian is short of match fitness but is in line for his first chance to show what he can do in a Chelsea shirt.
Willian
Willian has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place this season and this looks like being another chance for him to impress.
Pedro
With Olivier Giroud nursing a calf problem and Eden Hazard surely likely to be rested, Pedro could start.
Alvaro Morata
Conte has said Morata, recently back from a back injury, will play at least some part in the game. That seemed to point towards the Spaniard starting and perhaps at some point making way for the exciting Hudson-Odoi. Or could the teenage striker start instead?
