How Chelsea’s could line-up for Southampton with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James pushing to start in latest team news
FRANK LAMPARD could throw youngsters Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi into his Chelsea starting line-up for tomorrow’s trip to Southampton.
The Blues boss is still without left-back Emerson Palmieri, centre-half Antonio Rudiger and midfielder Roben Loftus-Cheek for the trip to the South Coast.
It is possible that midfielder Ross Barkley called be recalled after being left out in midweek for the 2-1 Champions League win over Lille.
This was after his altercation with police.
But Lamps is believed to be tempted to give fans’ favourite Hudson-Odoi his first Premier League start of this term after injury.
The 18-year-old impressed after coming off the bench in France.
Right-back James is another possibility but Lampard could decide to bring him on from the bench if the match goes according to plan.
James, 19, played nearly an hour after given a start against Lille.
He impressed on loan at Wigan last season.
Chelsea go into the game on the back of an impressive away run since their 4-0 capitulation at Manchester United on the opening day of the season.
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Aside from the penalty shootout loss to Liverpool in the Super Cup, they have won all three games on the road in all competitions.
Pedro and Olivier Giroud are also battling for starting spots, but Lampard is unlikely to make too many changes after their bright start to the season.
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That means Abraham, with eight goals in his last seven games, is likely to lead the line, with Mason Mount dropping back slightly deeper to allow Hudson-Odoi and Willian to play just behind the England striker.
Marcos Alonso will continue at left-back, but Lamps faces his biggest decision over whether to partner skipper Cesar Azpilicueta and new England call-up Fikayo Tomori together at the heart of the defence or play three centre-halves with Kurt Zouma or Andreas Christensen coming in.