‘He’s in the frame’: Graham Potter says Chelsea player could get first minutes under him tonight

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Graham Potter has suggested that Chelsea’s Denis Zakaria may play against Dinamo Zagreb tonight in the Champions League group stages.

The Blues host the Croatian champions on Wednesday evening at Stamford Bridge, which is part of the final round of matches in Group E.

Thankfully, Potter’s side have already qualified for the Champions League knockout rounds as group winners.

However, the spotlight may be on Chelsea for some kind of response in their performance after suffering a crushing 4-1 defeat on the weekend away to Brighton in the Premier League.

Zakaria may play against Dinamo Zagreb

Zakaria, who’s been a forgotten man at the Bridge since he arrived on loan from Juventus in the summer, is yet to make his Chelsea debut.

It sounds like he’s got a chance of getting his first minutes under Potter in midweek, though.

Chelsea’s boss says the 25-year-old Blues midfielder is “in the frame” to face Dinamo Zagreb.

When asked if Zakaria will get an opportunity against Dinamo Zagreb, Potter replied: “As I’ve said before, he’s been really good, he’s trained well, supported his teammates. Obviously disappointed not to play like everybody is but up until the weekend results have been positive, performances, we’ve been trying to take steps. He’s in the frame tomorrow, he’s in the squad, he’s available for selection so we’ll wait and see.”

It’s been an agonising wait for Chelsea fans this campaign waiting to see Zakaria in the flesh, so perhaps they’ll finally get their wish later.

The defensive midfielder proved he’s a quality operator with Borussia Monchengladbach before a glamorous move to Juventus, so most of the Blues fanbase are baffled to see him constantly left out this season.

The Evening Standard claims Zakaria could actually be left out against Dinamo Zagreb in order to allow him to leave in January.

It’s certainly going to be interesting to see if Zakaria, along with some other fringe players, do get an opportunity tonight.

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