Chelsea will look to end their four-game winless run when they host League Two side Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
A sensational start to the season under new boss Enzo Maresca saw Chelsea mooted as potential challengers for the Premier League title.
However, a disappointing run over the festive period, including defeats to Fulham and Ipswich Town, have seen the Blues drop to fourth place in the league and ten points of leaders Liverpool.
A draw to Crystal Palace last weekend extended their winless run to four games, but Maresca’s side will be hopeful of playing themselves back into form in their first match of this year’s FA Cup.
And up against Morecambe, who currently sit second bottom in League Two, Chelsea will likely use the fixture as an opportunity to rotate and give minutes to fringe players.
Such rotation could afford Reece James the chance to get his first minutes since suffering another hamstring injury in mid-November.
The club captain has been an unused substitute in Chelsea’s last two league games but could come back into the fold at long last at the weekend.
Elsewhere in defence, Josh Acheampong could continue at centre-back after his impressive display against Palace, while Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi might also get minutes.
Benoit Badisahille and Wesley Fofana remain longer-term absentees due to their respective injuries, with the latter facing an extended spell on the sidelines.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia will hope to make his long-awaited return having missed the last five league games due to a hamstring injury.
The Belgian has returned to first-team training and Maresca hinted that the 21-year-old could be involved at the weekend.
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‘Romeo, hopefully the next game he can be involved,’ Maresca said after Chelsea’s draw with Palace last weekend.
Summer signings Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman are not expected to feature but Cesare Casadei could be set for a rare start as he continues to be linked with a loan exit in January.
Tyrique George and Marc Guiu, who both started Chelsea’s last Conference League fixture, could get more cup minutes in attacking positions as Maresca looks to rest his first-choice forwards for the midweek clash with Bournemouth.
Predicted Chelsea XI to face Morecambe
Jorgensen, Disasi, Acheampong, Tosin, Veiga, Casadei, Lavia, Madueke, Nkunku, George, Guiu
Where to watch Chelsea vs Morecambe? Kick-off time and TV channel
Chelsea vs Morecambe kicks off at 3pm GMT on Saturday, January 11.
However, viewers in the United Kingdom will not be able to watch the game live on TV or via a live stream as it has not been selected for TV coverage.
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