How Chelsea will line up against Aston Villa with Abraham set for late fitness test and Pulisic ready to play up front

TAMMY ABRAHAM will have a late fitness test tomorrow to see if he can face former club Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea striker, 22, spent last season on loan at Villa Park and his 26 goals helped fire the Midlands side back into the Premier League.

This is how Chelsea could line up when Aston Villa head to Stamford Bridge tomorrow night

If Tammy Abraham is not fit to face his former side, Christian Pulisic could lead the line

But he remains a doubt for tomorrow night’s game with a hip injury sustained against Valencia.

Abraham missed the 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday as Olivier Giroud looked off the pace leading the line.

If he passes the fitness test, Abraham is almost certain to start and try to add to his ten Premier League goals this season.

Boss Frank Lampard said: “We’re giving him every possible chance to be fit. Still got some pain in the area of the injury, make a judgement tomorrow.

“It’s painful for him, so it’s a pain threshold and whether it affects his movements. So I wouldn’t want to commit today.

“He was in good form, and with players that are important you want to give them as much time.

“He’s keen and we’re trying our best to give him time, but if he’s not ready we have to go in a different route anyway.”

Giroud was not at his best on Saturday while Michy Batshuayi was an unused substitute.

So there is a possibility that Christian Pulisic could start in a false No9 role again through the middle as Chelsea look to take another step towards Champions League qualification.

Lampard added: “I’ll have to consider that. What you’ve seen is that we have competition in that area, so that’s my choice to make.”

Kepa Arrizabalaga will no doubt start in goal with Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori at centre-back as Antonio Rudiger remains out.

Marcos Alonso has been frozen out leaving Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta and Emerson to battle it out for the full-back slots.

And in midfield, Jorginho looks on course to keep his place with Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante all in contention to start against Villa – but Ross Barkley was sick yesterday and is set to miss out.

In attack, Pedro, Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi will all be desperate to be given another start and impress so they can kick-start a run of games going into the busy festive period.

Olivier Giroud looked off the pace when he started up front against West HamCredit: Reuters

Abraham injured his hip against Valencia and will have a late fitness test tomorrowCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk