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Chelsea predicted XI vs Aston Villa

By
Oliver Harbord Chelsea correspondent Alan Smith
The Blues are set to return to action next month when the Premier League finally comes back after hiatus.

The Premier League is edging closer to a return with the announcement on Thursday that the first matches after the suspension of football will be on June 17.

Chelsea have been back in training since last week and are not into Phase Two of their sessions, meaning that the players are back into contact tackling and as a group.

The Blues will be looking to get back to winning ways and following up the victory against Everton when football does return, and Frank Lampard will be hoping to have a clean bill of health with his players.

Before football was suspended, Chelsea were scheduled to take on Aston Villa, and if remains the same then a trip to Villa Park will be the first game for the Blues?.
Lampard will be waiting on N'Golo Kante and whether or not the Frenchman feels comfortable to play during the Covid-19 crisis. While the World Cup winner has returned to solo training, he is apprehensive about full contact football.
If he does come back, then of course he goes into the starting XI, while Billy Gilmour deserves the chance to play in the Jorginho role, with the Italy international still suspended for one Premier League game.

At the back, Kurt Zouma should partner Antonio Rudiger, with Reece James coming back into the team and Cesar Azpilicueta moving over to the left.

The big question is up front, and Tammy Abraham should come back in, despite Olivier Giroud's impressive performances before the season was suspended.

Christian Pulisic should be given a go back in the first team, while Mason Mount might have to move over to the left wing, a position he has played on a couple of occasions this season.

Harbord's predicted XI: Kepa; James, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Kante, Gilmour, Kovacic; Pulisic, Abraham, Mount.

Alan Smith - Senior writer

The big question around the first game back is who plays at the base of midfield. Jorginho's suspension should mean it is a toss up between Billy Gilmour, who had impressed in the two games before the break, and N'Golo Kante.


The Frenchman's availability is unknown as he weighs up safety concerns about a return to playing and even if he does commit there is a feeling that he will be playing catch up in terms of training.

Kepa will start in goal and the full back hierarchy seems settled with a back four but Lampard's constant shuffling of his centre backs makes that combination harder to pick. Toni Rudiger is the first-choice but let's go with Kurt Zouma as his first partner.

Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount are the standout candidates in the other midfield spots, while the fit again Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham should start in attacking next to Willian, whose professionalism will not be disputed despite his contract issue.

Smith's predicted XI: Kepa; James, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Gilmour; Kovacic, Mount; Willian, Abraham, Pulisic.
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