WESLEY FOFANA is in line to make his Chelsea debut against West Ham – but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria WON’T be involved.
The Blues welcome the Hammers to Stamford Bridge tomorrow afternoon.
Thomas Tuchel’s side secured a £70million swoop for Fofana on Wednesday, before signing Aubameyang and Zakaria on deadline day.
And those final two deals, Chelsea’s seventh and eighth first-team additions of the window, came too late for either to play a part on Saturday.
Boss Tuchel confirmed Aubameyang is out due to the broken jaw he suffered when his house was robbed by armed burglars last weekend.
Zakaria meanwhile is yet to receive his work permit.
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Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Dinamo Zagreb could see Zakaria make his debut, while Aubameyang is set to train next week wearing a mask because of his jaw injury.
Fofana though is in line to start tomorrow.
Tuchel confirmed that Reece James was also back available after the England ace missed the midweek defeat to Southampton.
James is a shoo-in to start at right wing-back, with Marc Cucurella set to continue on the other side.
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In the heart of defence, Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva are likely to line up alongside new boy Fofana.
Up front Raheem Sterling will be looking to continue his goalscoring run, alongside Kai Havertz and Mason Mount.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has impressed in recent weeks and could start alongside Jorginho.
Alternatively, Conor Gallagher is back from suspension and may be immediately reinstated into the starting line up.
Mateo Kovacic could also get the nod to freshen things up.
The same goes for Armando Broja, who may be handed a first start of the campaign if Tuchel fancies a change up front.
Meanwhile if James isn’t fit enough to start, and Fofana isn’t ready to be chucked in at the deep end, club captain Cesar Azpilicueta would likely come in.
Loftus-Cheek could then be asked to do a job at right wing-back, having done so already this season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
