Chelsea XI vs Leeds: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for FA Cup | OneFootball

Managerless Blues looking to salvage season with silverware

The match will be the Blues’ first since Liam Rosenior was sacked as head coach on Wednesday and replaced by his assistant Calum McFarlane, who will be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

McFarlane is expected to give an update on Joao Pedro’s availability at his press conference later on Friday. The striker missed matches against Manchester United and Brighton due to a thigh injury but he has been in training this week.

McFarlane will also be asked about Cole Palmer, Reece James and Estevao, who have been dealing with hamstring injuries.

Estevao is considered by some to be a World Cup doubt and it is expected that he will not feature again for Chelsea this season due to the injury sustained early on in the United game.

Levi Colwill is expected to play for the Under-21s again this weekend and is not yet ready to play his first minutes of the season for the first team following his serious knee injury suffered in pre-season.

Rosenior set Chelsea up with a back three against Brighton on Tuesday night before rolling back on that decision at half-time when the Blues trailed at the Amex Stadium.

McFarlane is likely to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Liam Delap could lead the line again if Joao Pedro is unavailable. He may favour Andrey Santos as Moises Caicedo’s midfield partner and could push Enzo Fernandez up into the No10 position.

Jamie Gittens and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen are slightly longer-term absentees and remain sidelined.

Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Joao Pedro