Five academy stars start, Christopher Nkunku rested - Chelsea line-ups for Astana clash

Enzo Maresca is set to name his most youthful side yet since becoming Chelsea head coach as the Blues take on FC Astana on Thursday afternoon.

Chelsea go into this week's round of fixtures sitting prettily at the top of the UEFA Conference League league table. With the Blues about to embark on a 7000-mile round trip to the freezing Kazakhstan, Maresca is using the opportunity to give some players a rest and allow those on the fringes of the squad a chance to shine.

So, with that said, Bobby Vincent and Joe Doyle discuss and debate exactly what Maresca should do. Let us know who, if either, out of Bobby and Joe you agree with in the comments section below...

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Bobby Vincent

While this is clearly an opportunity for some youth players to get some minutes, I would not want to go too overboard with it, personally. By that, I mean that there are several first-team players that have not been getting enough minutes in the Premier League recently that still need to play.

Filip Jorgensen in goal, for me. It would be nice to see Max Merrick start, but Jorgensen needs minutes. His performances when he has been called upon have been very strong - so he deserves another chance in goal.

Josh Acheampong deserves a shot at right-back - and by the sound of it, Maresca's mind is already made up on that front! Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Renato Veiga to make up the back four.

Cesare Casadei is suspended, of course, so there is set to be a rare opportunity for Carney Chukwuemeka to get some much-needed minutes into his legs. We have been deprived of Chukwuemeka this season as spectators and it would be great to see him on the pitch alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Tyrique George would be fantastic to see from the start, too, alongside Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku with Marc Guiu up top. If we could see some minutes to those academy players named on the bench - and I think we will - then that would be perfect.

Bobby's XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga; Chukwuemeka, Dewsbury-Hall; George, Nkunku, Neto; Guiu.

Joe Doyle

Having won all four of their Conference League games so far and with the situations surrounding this tip to Astana, I think Maresca has to rotate heavily again - especially given how well the Blues are going in the Premier League.

While obviously the likes of Cole Palmer will not be involved, I'd be tempted to leave a lot of players behind in London, even if it is a late game on Sunday against Brentford.

I'd be giving the likes of Lucas Bergstrom or Max Merrick a start in goal, and it looks obvious that Josh Acheampong is starting at right-back after being welcomed back into the fold. Axel Disasi starts at centre-back, and I'd be tempted to give Harrison Murray-Campbell a debut alongside him, with Renato Veiga at left-back.

In midfield, I'd be starting Carney Chukwuemeka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. And I'd also be giving a first start to Samuel Rak-Sakyi. There's no point bringing the likes of Enzo Fernandez or Moises Caicedo on the trip when you can give them a rest after such busy schedules recently.

And in attack it's a trio of Marc Guiu, Tyrique George and Pedro Neto, with the former Wolves star suspended for the clash against Brentford anyway.

Joe's XI : Bergstrom; Acheampong, Disasi, Murray-Campbell, Veiga; Chukwuemeka, Dewsbury-Hall, Rak-Sakyi; George, Guiu, Neto.