Chelsea are about to enter this season’s EFL Cup with a trip to Lincoln City, which should present an opportunity for several individuals to make a case for themselves to play more.
On Tuesday night, Chelsea face an away fixture at Lincoln, who currently sit third in League One.
Let’s wait and see if Blues head coach Enzo Maresca shuffles his pack with his team selection in midweek. Most fans would expect to see some different players get minutes to impress, especially after navigating three matches in eight days since returning from the international break.
Maresca highlighted Chelsea’s injury problems and the pressure it’s put on several stars. While we do agree to a certain extent, there are also talented players waiting on the bench for more opportunities to impress.
The Chelsea Chronicle has picked out three players who should start the cup tie against Lincoln and could catapult their way into Saturday’s Premier League fixture at home to Brighton with standout performances.
Josh Acheampong
It feels like a no-brainer for Josh Acheampong, 19, to start Chelsea’s midweek cup trip to Lincoln. He should be getting more of a look-in for the Premier League, too.
The versatile defender, who can play right-back or centre-half, hasn’t played a single minute since he started and impressed on the opening day of the league season against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea supporters are mystified by Acheampong’s absence across recent matches.
The academy graduate has both the composure and ability to play regularly in the first team. However, it is concerning that Maresca has hinted Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah may start again versus Lincoln.
If Acheampong is actually trusted with a run of appearances, we’re confident he can shine.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho should be handed his first-ever Chelsea start during the Lincoln tie.
So far this season, the 21-year-old attacker has had just a couple of cameos off the bench as he settles into life at a new club after joining from Manchester United in the summer. It feels like he’s an obvious candidate to soon break into the side as the starting left-winger, though. He just needs that chance to show what he can do from the start!
Florent Malouda’s prediction on Garnacho is that the exciting wide player can follow a similar trajectory to Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge with his talent.
Can Tuesday night be the time for Garnacho to properly introduce himself to the Chelsea fanbase?
Andrey Santos
The way that Andrey Santos has performed lately off the bench suggests he’s soon ready for a more prominent role in the Premier League. If the 21-year-old midfielder impresses against Lincoln, he’s got to be firmly in Maresca’s thoughts to face Brighton this weekend.
The truth is that Enzo Fernandez’s form in the centre of the park has been mixed at the start of this season. In fact, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink argues Fernandez isn’t fully fit because of the amount of football he’s played across the past year.
Santos, who’s an all-action central midfielder, looks like he’s vastly improved his game from a successful time on loan with Strasbourg.
The Chelsea boss may be able to rotate more than he thinks because the Brazil international is a potential star waiting to play more minutes.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
