Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could be tempted to hand youngster Tyrique George a start when they welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday.
George scored Chelsea's leveller at Fulham last weekend before Pedro Neto went on to net a stunning winner for the Blues, keeping alive their hopes of Champions League qualification, and that could see those start out wide for the hosts.
The 19-year-old has been a regular in Chelsea's Conference League side this season, but despite the semi-final against Djurgarden coming up on Thursday, George may have done enough to break into the Premier League squad.
George and Neto may need to be on hand to produce the goods again because Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson both saw their respective goal droughts go on last weekend.
Palmer has now failed to find the net in any of his last 16 matches, but will hope that good memories of facing Everton can help him break that duck, as he scored four in a 6-0 win over the Toffees last season, becoming the first player to manage that feat against them in the 21st century.
Jackson may have had injury setbacks so far in 2025, but he is now 13 games without a goal himself, and his lack of assists on top of that (two in 13) could see Maresca try something different in the near future.
Marc Guiu could be one of the options Maresca considers, with the Spaniard closing in on a return to the first team after a hamstring setback, but the same injury will keep Wesley Fofana out for the rest of the season.
Right-back Malo Gusto may also miss the rest of the campaign after he was forced off in the final few minutes at Fulham last time out with a muscular problem, with Maresca stating that it did not look good.
That should see Reece James start at right-back, even though he is set to move into midfield against Djurgarden on Thursday, but Romeo Lavia's recent return could see Maresca abandon that experiment.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; George, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Click here to see how Everton could line up on their trip to the Bridge.
Andrew Delaney
