Chelsea XI vs Middlesbrough: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Carabao Cup game today

Christopher Nkunku is again the headline absence for Chelsea in perhaps their biggest match of the season so far tonight.

The 26-year-old forward remains out for Middlesbrough's visit to Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

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Nkunku has been sidelined for nearly four weeks due to a hip issue, which kept him out of the 1-0 defeat at the Riverside Stadium a fortnight ago.

Trevoh Chalobah is closing in on his return but isn't deemed fit enough to play this evening.

Ben Chilwell captains the side, while Carney Chukwuemeka and Benoit Badiashile are on the bench, after returning in the 1-0 win over Fulham last week.

Mauricio Pochettino is also without Malo Gusto, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Lesley Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia, who are all injured. Cesare Casadei is cup-tied after playing in the competition for Leicester.

Djordje Petrovic continues as the goalkeeper in front of a back four of Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill and Chilwell.

Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are the midfielder pairing and it is an attacking quarter in front of them, as Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja and Mykhailo Mudryk all start.

Starting XI: Petrovic, Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell, Caicedo, Fernandez, Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk, BrojaSubs: Bergstrom, Curd, Badiashile, Gilchrist, Castledine, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Madueke, Washington

Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday January 23, 2024

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

TV channel: Sky Sports