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Serie A side Atalanta host Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and Enzo Maresca's squad has been confirmed for the trip to Italy as the Blues go in search of three points
Cole Palmer and Liam Delap are among the high-profile absentees for Chelsea's Champions League showdown against Atalanta. There is some positive news as Moises Caicedo has been included as the Blues travel to Bergamo looking to strengthen their position in the automatic qualification spots.
Enzo Maresca's side are in the top eight on goal difference as they're level on points with Borussia Dortmund, Sporting CP, Manchester City and Tuesday's opponents, with only the Bundesliga side above them on goal difference.
However, they will have to make do without key players like Palmer and Delap as they join Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia on the sidelines.
Dario Essugo will also miss the trip to Italy through injury, but there is good news that Chelsea's midfield general returns to the fold having missed their last two Premier League outings against Leeds United and Bournemouth.
Palmer missed training as part of plan to return to full fitness, as opposed to the England international sitting out the match with a fresh injury problem.
Caicedo, meanwhile, has served two of his three matches following his red card against Arsenal but a casualty from their last outing against Bournemouth, Delap was forced off after 32 minutes with a shoulder injury during the goalless draw.
Ahead of the game tonight (8pm), Maresca said: "Liam is fortunately not any fracture and Cole, it's part of the process at the moment. He can't play two games in three days. It's a way to protect him.
"Liam, as I said, he has not fractured anything. That is good news for us. Now, for how long he will be out, not sure to be honest."
He added: “Reece James and Wesley Fofana are both with us, so both are available for tomorrow's game. Then we see the first XI tomorrow.
"Then in terms of the number nine, we had already Liam two months out, unfortunately for him and unfortunately for us.
"Joao Pedro played as a number nine, Pedro Neto played as a nine, if you remember at the beginning of the season, also play as a number nine."
Chelsea squad vs Atalanta in full:
Goalkeepers: Filip Jorgensen, Max Merrick, Robert Sanchez
Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Jorrel Hato, Reece James
Midfielders: Facundo Buonanotte, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos,
Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrique George, Jamie Gittens, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian
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