PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG will make his Chelsea debut TONIGHT against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
The former Barcelona and Arsenal forward, 33, signed for the Blues on deadline day but was unavailable for the weekend’s win over West Ham.
He has been recovering from a broken jaw which he suffered during a robbery at his house.
But now he is fit to play and has been named in Thomas Tuchel’s line-up for their opening European fixture of the campaign in Croatia.
The Gabon international will wear a mask to protect his jaw during the game.
Aubameyang is beginning a second spell under Tuchel, who previously managed him at Borussia Dortmund.
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And he will be looking to hit the ground running in the Champions League – a competition where he boasts a record of 15 goals in 32 matches.
But one player who will not be starting alongside Aubameyang is Chelsea’s No1 Edouard Mendy.
The keeper, 30, has been dropped by Tuchel for their clash with Zagreb, with Kepa Arrizabalaga replacing him in between the sticks.
It comes after Mendy’s blunder at Stamford Bridge at the weekend – an error which he ultimately got away with.
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The Senegalese shot-stopper spilled the ball inside his own area against West Ham, with Maxwel Cornet pouncing to lash home a late equaliser to make the game 2-2.
However, after a VAR review, referee Andrew Madley disallowed the goal for an innocuous foul by Jarrod Bowen on Mendy.
The PGMOL have subsequently admitted it was the wrong call.
But Mendy has not gotten away completely unpunished as he is benched for tonight’s match.
Chelsea XI to play Dinamo Zagreb: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Fofana, Koulibaly; James, Mount, Kovacic, Chilwell; Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling.
Subs: Bettinelli, Mendy, Cucurella, Chalobah, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria, Pulisic, Ziyech, Broja.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
