Full Chelsea squad revealed for Bournemouth as Mauricio Pochettino makes key final decision

Chelsea are looking to win five league games in a row for the first time since March 2022 as they finish off the Premier League season at home to Bournemouth on Sunday. After holding on to beat Brighton in the penultimate match earlier this week, Mauricio Pochettino is within touching distance of securing European football.

It is not in their hands entirely with Manchester United still holding some control over which position earns a spot in the Europa League due to their involvement in the FA Cup final. However, Manchester City are heavy favourites for the match at Wembley with Erik ten Hag's men on a run of two league wins in their last 14 games.

Chelsea have taken advantage of this run to put themselves in pole position to finish at least sixth. Should Tottenham lose to Sheffield United there would be an open door for fifth as well.

Despite being a frustration for Pochettino due to the timing, Chelsea will be as close to full strength as they have been all season. Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and Robert Sanchez will all miss the game and have a claim to being starters when fit, which sums up the fitness problems encountered for much of the past nine months, but Pochettino will have a strong group to select from regardless.

Captain Reece James will not be able to play after receiving a red card at the Amex Stadium - and will carry out a four-match ban that rolls over into next season - but there is good news elsewhere. Malo Gusto made his first start since April 15 against the Seagulls having been out with injury. He is expected to be involved again.

In midfield there was another appearance for Lesley Ugochukwu having spent five months out with a hamstring problem. Carney Chukwuemeka could also be in the squad after five games missed through injury, he has been in team training for the past week.

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Ben Chilwell is ahead of him in making a full return after making the bench against Brighton but he has also been absent from the starting XI for most of 2024. Even whilst lacking match sharpness, these returns have granted Pochettino a level of newfound depth.

The only player unavailable due to new injury worries is Mykhailo Mudryk. He is undergoing concussion protocols after being hit in the face by a stray Tariq Lamptey elbow. The winger was taken off as a concussion substitute and is therefore ruled out for this clash.

Here, football.london has predicted the group Pochettino will select for the match.

Goalkeepers: Djordje Petrovic, Robert Sanchez

Defenders: Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile

Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Conor Gallagher, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu

Attackers: Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling