Chelsea have reportedly lined-up a friendly with Brentford as their final preparation match ahead of facing Bournemouth in the Premier League.
According to the Evening Standard, Graham Potter will take on Thomas Frank next Tuesday, a week before the Blues host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
Potter put his players through their paces during the warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi whilst the World Cup ensued.
Numerous academy graduates, and a smattering of senior stars, jetted off across the globe to resume their work prior to domestic football’s resumption.
Their last meaningful action by the Central West Coast was to face Aston Villa in a friendly fixture.
A Chelsea side largely made up of individuals from the Under-21s lost 1-0 to Unai Emery’s nearly full-strength XI.
Sadly, the evening was overshadowed by Armando Broja’s excruciating injury, that forced him to be stretchered off the field.
Broja will certainly not take part in the game against Brentford, and might be absent for a large chunk of the campaign.
However, Potter should have numerous members of his first-team to call-upon once again, following their respective exits from the World Cup.
Permitted they are fit and available, here is our predicted 11 for the battle with the Bees on the 20th of December.
Defence
Marcus Bettinelli made a rare start between the sticks against Villa, but may be moved aside by the returning Edouard Mendy.
With Kepa Arrizabalaga still recovering from injury, Mendy is more than likely going to retain the number one jersey.
Therefore, it only feels right to get him back up to speed as soon as possible.
Ahead of the goalkeeper, a decent back-four consisting of Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella.
Azpilicueta and Koulibaly’s World Cup adventures were cut short in the round of 16, so should be free for selection.
Senegal captain Koulibaly could not prevent England from progressing to the quarter-final, whilst Azpilicueta’s Spain were shocked by Morocco and Chelsea co-worker Hakim Ziyech.
Chalobah and Cucurella were two of Potter’s primary camp who did not travel to Qatar.
Midfield
With N’Golo Kante still absent, Ruben Loftus-Cheek overcoming an injury, and Mateo Kovacic preparing for a World Cup semi-final, Potter’s midfield options are limited.
Yet, he could once again rely on the impressive Lewis Hall, who began in central midfield against Villa.
The 18-year-old displayed confidence and maturity in a position he regularly takes up for the development teams.
Next to him in a three-man midfield might be Jorginho and Conor Gallagher.
Gallagher did not play a single minute at the World Cup, so should be fresher than even those who departed the competition earlier than the England international.
Attack
Due to Broja’s wounds, the only natural replacement to lead the line is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Aubameyang could possibly be flanked up front by Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic.
Havertz will not want to be reminded of the World Cup any time soon.
Germany were eliminated in the group stage, largely owed to their shocking defeat to Japan on matchday one.
Pulisic meanwhile went one further than his attacking colleague by helping the USA progress to the knockout round.
The United States did then lose to Holland 3-1, but Pulisic certainly proved he can be a helpful option to Potter for the rest of the term.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Brentford: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Hall, Jorginho, Gallagher; Pulisic, Aubameyang, Havertz
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