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Two academy stars start, Lavia returns, Felix decision - Chelsea XIs for Morecambe FA Cup clash

Joao Felix
-Credit:Justin Setterfield


Chelsea are set to make several changes to their team on Saturday afternoon as they welcome League Two strugglers Morecambe to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues kick off their 2024/25 FA Cup campaign with a third round tie at home to the Shrimps - who are 87 places behind the west Londoners in the English football pyramid. Enzo Maresca, though, will not be taking this match lightly as he looks for his side to return to winning ways after a four-game winless run.

Saying that, however, Maresca is expected to make wholesale changes. Below, Bobby Vincent and Joe Doyle discuss what they would do if they were in the head coach's shoes on Saturday afternoon...

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Bobby Vincent

Filip Jorgensen in goal - as we have seen in the cup competitions so far. In front of him, we could see the long awaited return of captain Reece James. The right-back has not started for the Blues since early-November but after being an unused substitute in the last two matches, it feels like the perfect opportunity to give James some much-needed minutes on Saturday afternoon.

Josh Acheampong was so good last weekend that I would be tempted to rest him against Morecambe, so he can feature from the start against Bournemouth a few days later. So, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo in the centre of defence, with Renato Veiga replacing Marc Cucurella in the XI.

If Romeo Lavia is fit, then it seems a no-brainer to me to give the Belgian some minutes. Alongside him, I would love to see Sam Rak-Sakyi given some more minutes with the possibility of giving Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo a rest.

I would be giving Tyrique George a start on the right wing, with Christopher Nkunku in the No.10 role with Cole Palmer nowhere near the squad. Joao Felix on the left wing, but drifting into central areas, playing behind the sole No.9 in Marc Guiu.

Bobby's line-up: Jorgensen; James, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga; Lavia, Rak-Sakyi; George, Nkunku, Felix; Guiu.

Joe Doyle

Filip Jorgensen starts in goal. I think he should really be the first-choice keeper after Robert Sanchez's run of form this season.

Defence is an interesting one; there's not too many areas to rotate, but Renato Veiga comes in to allow Marc Cucurella a rest. Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Reece James will get minutes at right-back, so that leaves the two centre-back positions.

I think it's a fairly easy decision to rest Levi Colwill - he's played a lot of football recently, only missing out on the Conference League games and a clash against Southampton. There's an argument for Josh Acheampong to sit this one out and play against Crystal Palace instead, but I'd be tempted to put him in for the cup tie and give him a different type of challenge up against Morecambe.

Alongside Acheampong, I'd play Disasi. I think Tosin would be a better fit alongside Colwill against Bournemouth, so he is on the bench here.

In midfield, with no Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall due to injury, I'm starting Romeo Lavia to give him some more minutes and you may as well pop Sam Rak-Sakyi in alongside him - leave Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez out completely, for me.

In attack, it's going to be Christopher Nkunku in the No.10 position. He's not had nearly enough starts there due to Cole Palmer's brilliance. Tyrique George starts on the right and it's a bit of a toss-up on the left but I'll go for Joao Felix, with Marc Guiu playing up front.

Joe's line-up: Jorgensen; James, Disasi, Acheampong, Veiga; Lavia, Rak-Sakyi; George, Nkunku, Felix; Guiu.