Reece James and Romeo Lavia are set to return from injury as Chelsea host Morecambe in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, January 11, 2025.
Both players have recovered from their respective hamstring injuries and are expected to feature in what will be a key match for manager Enzo Maresca to rotate his squad.
With Chelsea’s European commitments on hold until early March, the FA Cup tie presents a rare opportunity for Maresca to make wholesale changes and provide minutes to fringe players.
James and Lavia’s return comes at an ideal time, offering the Blues a boost in depth for the remainder of the season.
While the returns of James and Lavia are a positive sign, there are some notable absentees. Ben Chilwell and Cesare Casadei will not be involved, as both are expected to leave the club this month.
Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is sidelined with an injury, and long-term absentees Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile remain unavailable for selection.
Given the circumstances, academy graduate Samuel Rak-Sakyi could be handed a rare start in midfield, with Maresca looking to test his options in a competitive setting.
The predicted Chelsea XI for the match is as follows:
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; James, Acheampong, Disasi, Veiga; Lavia, Rak-Sakyi; Madueke, Nkunku, Felix; Guiu
Injured: Fofana, Badiashile, Dewsbury-Hall
Unavailable: Mudryk
Kick-off is set for 3pm GMT on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
