Chelsea are about to add four players to strongest matchday squad vs Brentford

Chelsea will soon be back in Premier League action as the season restarts after the first international break of the season.

The Blues will take on Brentford at the G-tech Community Stadium on Saturday night (8 pm kick-off). Chelsea have seven points from their opening three games of the campaign.

They kicked off their season with a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace before earning six points from games against West Ham (a 5-1 win) and Fulham (a 2-0 win).

Between the final game against Fulham and the return of league action were the final days of the summer transfer window. This means that two players who joined during that time could make it into the Chelsea squad for the game against Brentford.

When the team is released 75 minutes before kick-off, eyes will be on the inclusion of Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Bounanotte on the team sheet.

Garnacho completed a move to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 30 August, and was in attendance for the game against Fulham. Bounannotte completed a loan move to Chelsea on deadline day.

In addition to the new arrivals, Chelsea could be given a massive boost with Cole Palmer returning from injury. The talisman has missed the last two games against West Ham and Fulham.

He was not part of the England squad for the current international break. But a positive social media update hints that he could be back in time to face Brentford.

Despite an injury scare over midfielder Moises Caicedo, Chelsea were provided another boost with the player starting Ecuador’s World Cup qualifier against Argentina. He was, however, shown a red card in the second half of the game.

Chelsea won’t be impacted by any suspension resulting from that sending-off, with him serving any punishment while with Ecuador. This means he should be ready and available for the game vs Brentford.

A fourth player who may be added to the squad is returning loanee Marc Guiu. The striker was recalled from his short loan spell with Sunderland before the end of the transfer window, following injury to Liam Delap.

Nicolas Jackson’s exit to Bayern Munich on deadline day means that there could be a place on the bench for the forward to provide support and cover for Joao Pedro.

Enzo Maresca also has a decision to make in defence. Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah have started the last two games and kept a clean sheet against Fulham.

However, Wesley Fofana has been making his comeback from injury as a substitute. When fit, the Frenchman is arguably one of Chelsea’s best defenders, but he may still have to continue to build up his minutes throughout the next few games before being given a starting place.

Chelsea captain and full-back Reece James has proven his fitness over the international break, starting both of England’s World Cup qualifiers. He was taken off in both games with around 20 minutes to play.

Chelsea’s strongest 20-man matchday squad vs Brentford

Starting XI : Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Pedro

Substitutes : Jorgensen, Acheampong, Hato, Gusto, Santos, Gittens, Bounanotte, Garnacho, George

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