How Chelsea could line up against Crystal Palace

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has been handed several fitness boosts ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The 47-year-old will take charge of his first Premier League game for the Blues this weekend and has welcomed midfielder N’Golo Kante back to training following a thigh problem.

However, the Frenchman will likely only be considered for minutes off the bench given his fitness record, while Edouard Mendy and Christian Pulisic are expected to be fine to feature.

Mendy will expect to take Kepa Arrizabalaga’s place in goal, and Potter elected to drop Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly to the bench for the Champions League draw with Red Bull Salzburg.

Only the former may be considered for a recall here, as Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella complete the three-man backline, with Reece James and Ben Chilwell bombing down the flanks.

Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic will expect to keep Denis Zakaria and former Eagles loanee Conor Gallagher at bay, and Mason Mount is seemingly a shoo-in for an attacking spot.

Raheem Sterling has also made himself undroppable in the early stages of his Chelsea career, as Pulisic takes a spot on the bench despite scoring five goals in five league starts versus Palace.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz will battle to spearhead the charge, and the former will expect to win that head-to-head, despite Havertz’s brace in a 3-3 draw with England on Monday.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Mendy; Fofana, Silva, Cucurella; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling