For Kante, he was out for a month with a hamstring injury and has been plagued by serious injuries in recent years. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CHELSEA VS RB SALZBURG LIVE! Meanwhile, Mendy continues to struggle with a minor patellar tendon injury after missing his side’s defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.
READ MORE
Kepa Arrizabalaga continues in goal while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also starts despite his struggles away to Croatia. Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva start with an experienced pair at the back, meaning Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly have to settle for places on the bench. Marc Cucurella reunites with his former Brighton boss and it’s from the end as expected. Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and Mason Mount all start in midfield in Chelsea’s final game before the international break. Starting XI: Kepa; James, Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Cucurella? Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount; Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling Subs: Bettinelli, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Broja, Zakaria, Chilwell, Žižek, Gallagher, Koulibaly, Tsukumeka, Fofana
