Premier League

Ziyech to debut? How Chelsea could line-up versus Southampton on Saturday

Frank Lampard now has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal in the forward areas, so who will make the starting XI?

12:00pm on Saturday 17th October 2020
By Martin Macdonald

Hakim Ziyech is in line to make his debut for Chelsea this weekend as the Blues take on Southampton at Stamford Bridge.

The former Ajax winger has been struggling to shake off an injury suffered during pre-season and is yet to feature in the Premier League, but is finally set to appear for the London side following his €40m transfer.

However, it could be from the bench with Mason Mount likely to start on the right.

Christian Pulisic, meanwhile, made his return from injury in Chelsea's previous match - a 4-0 win at home to Crystal Palace. He was given seven minutes off the bench from Frank Lampard, and is in line to make his first start of the campaign.

Chelsea: Squad, FC Ratings, Matches, Formations

For the two wing positions and the central striker role, Lampard will have to choose from:

Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner, Olivier Giroud, Kai Havertz, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

N'Golo Kante is set to be absent after collecting an injury with France, but it should be a simple decision to bring Mateo Kovacic back into the starting XI.

At no point this season has the Chelsea manager had all of his summer signings available to play, and unfortunately for him that is likely the case again as Edouard Mendy and Ben Chilwell both picked up injuries while on international duty.

Chilwell could feature, but Mendy is out.

Thiago Silva is not in the squad after long travel time with Brazil.