Chelsea: Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto absences explained before Leicester clash

Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill each commencement arsenic accustomed for Chelsea successful the East Midlands, portion Romeo Lavia is acceptable capable for the seat and Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez some enactment up successful midfield contempt lone returning from World Cup qualifiers successful South America connected Thursday.

Jadon Sancho is besides named arsenic a substitute aft missing retired anterior to the interruption pursuing wounded and illness, though Gusto and Neto are some absent from the squad entirely.

Standard Sport understands that Gusto - who withdrew from the French Under-21 squad past week - misses retired against Leicester owed to illness, portion guardant Neto volition not get a accidental to physique connected his awesome equaliser against Arsenal pursuing a sound sustained successful the Nations League that forced his aboriginal instrumentality from Portugal duty. Maresca has since confirmed those reasons for some players.

Chelsea are besides missing Reece James astatine the King Power, with their skipper reportedly acceptable to acquisition a scan adjacent week to find the grade of different hamstring injury. Young summertime signing Omari Kellyman is besides inactive retired with his ain hamstring issue.

With nary James oregon Gusto, Benoit Badiashile comes into the Chelsea defence against Leicester arsenic some Maresca and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall marque their archetypal returns to their erstwhile nine aft past season’s Championship rubric success.

Fernandez replaces Lavia and captains the broadside with James out, portion Neto’s spot successful the onslaught is taken by Joao Felix. Dewsbury-Hall and Sancho some determination onto the bench, meanwhile.