Chelsea predicted line-up vs. Burnley: Four changes as fresh injury problems plague Pochettino's squad

Chelsea have the chance to go unbeaten in March if they can get something from their game against Burnley on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League – but Mauricio Pochettino will have to manage without up to ten players thanks to a fresh set of injury problems.

Carney Chukwuemeka, who scored in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Leicester City before the international break, is among the players sidelined by fresh fitness problems, while the club have also revealed that summer signing Roméo Lavia, who has played just half an hour of Premier League football since arriving, will not feature again until next season.

We’ve collected all of the latest injury news and updates below ahead of Saturday’s showdown at Stamford Bridge, and ventured our best guess at Pochettino’s likely starting line-up – and if you’re looking for some information ahead of the Fantasy Premier League deadline, you can also read our high-flying manager’s FPL advice column by clicking here.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Serbian goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović is expected to start once more after Robert Sánchez, who was restored to the starting XI against Leicester, was injured again. Chelsea have provided very little information about the nature of the problem and it isn’t clear how long the Spaniard will be absent for, but the club have said that he is undergoing a rehabilitation programme and he will miss the game against Burnley.

Ben Chilwell is also a doubt after playing in both of England’s matches against Brazil and Belgium – the left-back has a “knock on his knee,” according to Pochettino, and will be assessed before kick-off. Levi Colwill (toe), Reece James (hamstring) and Wesley Fofana (cruciate ligament) are all out of Saturday’s game, while Trevoh Chalobah may feature after returning to partial training this week following an unspecified knock. Malo Gusto, who withdrew from France’s Under-23 squad with illness, is believed to have recovered.

Midfield

£58m summer signing Lavia won’t play again this campaign, according to the club, as he continues his recovery from a serious thing injury. A season stricken by injury issues means that the young Belgian will have been restricted to just one brief Premier League appearance in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, FA Cup hero Chukwuemeka was forced to withdraw from the England Under-21 squad last week after sustaining yet another injury – Chelsea have not provided any information about the extent of the problem but have confirmed that he will not play this weekend. Fellow youngster Lesley Ugochukwu continues rehab on a hamstring injury.

Forwards

Cole Palmer was surprisingly not given any game time for England this past week with reports of a fitness concern – but he was named on the bench for the game against Belgium and although he didn’t get on the field, any injury is not believed to be significant. He should be available to play against Burnley.

Another big-ticket summer signing who has endured an injury-ridden first campaign with Chelsea, Christopher Nkunku, is still sidelined by a hamstring injury but his return is believed to be close and he may be back in time to play against Sheffield United next weekend.

Full predicted line-up vs. Burnley

Petrović; Chilwell, Silva, Disasi, Gusto; Fernández, Caicedo, Gallagher; Mudryk, Jackson, Palmer.