Chelsea XI vs Aston Villa: Confirmed team news, starting lineup, injury latest for Premier League game today

Chelsea are without Reece James as they take on Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon.

The right-back came off with a knee injury against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday and will miss as much as eight weeks of action despite avoiding surgery.

James could even miss selection for England’s upcoming World Cup campaign in Qatar with N’Golo Kante also likely to miss France’s tournament.

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Furthermore, Wesley Fofana has been ruled out until after the World Cup, leaving Chelsea without three major players.

Without James today, the Blues could move into a back four and look for attacking impetus elsewhere on the pitch, though Hakim Ziyech is also absent.

Chelsea had already been accustomed to coping without Kante and Fofana ahead of a busy period in the Premier League - with Brentford and Manchester United to come next week.

Kepa Arrizabalaga continues in goal with Edouard Mendy still on the bench, alongside Kalidou Koulibaly.

Trevoh Chalobah does not make way for Cesar Azpilicueta to help move into a back four, though. Kai Havertz comes in for James in a roundabout solution to Chelsea’s attacking needs after a formation adjustment.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Kovacic, Chilwell; Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling

Subs: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Jorginho, Zakaria, Pulisic, Broja