Enzo Fernandez returns to the Chelsea team for tonight's Carabao Cup clash with Newcastle, as Christopher Nkunku remains on the bench.

Chelsea are without nine injured players, including Reece James, Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CHELSEA VS NEWCASTLE LIVE!

Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu, Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka also remain sidelined.

Noni Madueke is fit again but not in the squad at Stamford Bridge.

Christopher Nkunku made the bench for the first time for Saturday’s 2-0 win against Sheffield United and the £52million summer signing could finally make his Chelsea debut.

But he will start on the bench after his long injury lay-off and Pochettino has said “maybe he can play 20 minutes”.

Pochettino goes with a similar line-up to the one which beat Sheffield United.

Djordje Petrovic will continue in goal in place of injured No1 Sanchez, and Axel Disasi plays out of position again at right-back.

Enzo Fernandez was dropped at the weekend but returns instead of Mykhailo Mudryk, reuniting him with midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher.

Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson were all involved in goals on Saturday and start as the front three.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson

Subs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Gilchrist, Gusto, Maatsen, Mudryk, Matos, Nkunku, Broja

Injuries: Chukwuemeka, Chalobah, Chilwell, Cucurella, Sanchez, James, Fofana, Ugochukwu, Lavia

Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

TV channel: Sky Sports