Hello and welcome back to football.london for live coverage from Cobham as we prepare to hear from Enzo Maresca.
The Chelsea head coach will conduct his pre-match press conference from 1pm (UK time) this afternoon ahead of the Blues’ trip to Tyneside to face Newcastle United on Wednesday evening. Less than 48 hours after beating the Magpies in the Premier League, Maresca will preview tomorrow night’s match as the two sides go head-to-head in the Carabao Cup round of 16.
Chelsea had the home comfort of Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon but will have to try and do the business again at St. James’ Park. It is expected to be very much a different game, with both managers set to make changes from the teams that played out a close encounter in west London over the weekend.
We will ask Maresca about just that in today’s press conference, along with a whole other variety of topics. You can read every word the Blues head coach has to say, with Bobby Vincent live at Cobham…
A start for this man tomorrow?
Jadon Sancho has not been used in the last two matches for Chelsea – but is expected to get minutes of some sort tomorrow evening at Newcastle United.
Sancho could perhaps be used on the right wing at St. James’ Park. Pedro Neto has started the last two games, while Noni Madueke is expected to be given a rest on Tyneside. Mykhailo Mudryk could be the winger on the opposite flank…
Howe not sure what to expect
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is not sure what Chelsea will do regarding their team selection tomorrow night.
So far in the cup competitions, Enzo Maresca has made mass changes in every match but Howe is not too sure on what the Blues head coach will do.
Howe said:
This is one game where they could make wholesale changes or one or two changes, we don’t know what they will do. We need to plan for what we will do, we know there are certain aspects of our performance that we need to get right to win and that will be our focus.
Chelsea without three players tomorrow
After Enzo Maresca’s recent admission regarding the fitness and playing time of key trio Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Romeo Lavia, it looks very unlikely that any of them will be involved tomorrow night.
Chelsea take on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup round of 16 just 72 hours after the Blues beat the Magpies in a gruelling Premier League encounter.
