Football London
Callum Hudson-Odoi has been handed an immediate recall after his isolation following a positive Covid test came to an end earlier this week as he starts for Chelsea against Aston Villa.
Hudson-Odoi is straight back in but Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku, who both also tested positive 12 days ago, are not in the starting eleven. They are however back in the matchday squad, though Timo Werner isn’t.
The front three at Villa Park comprises of Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic, who gets another chance in the false nine role with Lukaku on the bench.
N’Golo Kante starts in midfield after a superb cameo off the bench in the Carabao Cup win over Brentford in midweek and starting the draw with Wolves last time out in the Premier League.
Jorginho starts alongside him, with Mateo Kovacic named among the substitutes having made his first start since October in midweek.
The back five has a familiar feel to it these days, with Marcos Alonso and Reece James the two wing-backs. The central trio is made up of Trevoh Chalobah, who played 90 minutes in midweek, alongside the returning Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger, who were both given the Brentford game off.
Another play who didn’t feature in midweek, Edouard Mendy, is back in goal, replacing Kepa from the Brentford victory.
Chelsea: Mendy; James, Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho; Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic.
