Five players that could make Chelsea debut vs Tottenham as Pochettino makes drastic squad decision

For many, it has come months too late, but Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that Chelsea will now have to turn to academy youngsters as they prepare to take on Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. After losing both Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva to injury there are just 11 available senior players.

Within that group is 20-year-old Alfie Gilchrist, who has one start. He was part of the Under-21s cohort when the season began.

The average age of what is almost certain to be the starting XI is 22. Only three of those players had made a senior appearance for the club before 2023.

The fitness issues that have ravaged the squad are, even for Chelsea, at a now staggering level. In 12 of their 34 league games this season 10 or more players have been on the pre-match injury list. With five games to go and just over three weeks to play them, it is possible that as many as nine players won't feature again this season at all.

Having named a bench with five teenagers and an average age of 20.6 (including a 31-year-old) against Aston Villa last time out, things look likely to be even less experienced at SW6 here. Chelsea's substitute options have often been baby-faced the visit of Tottenham might see things go a step further.

From the matchday squad against Villa, there are another two players missing. «No good news because we cannot recover any players from the list but have added Thiago [Silva] and [Axel] Disasi, they will not be available for tomorrow,» explained Pochettino.

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It leaves just 11 of the 25 players to have started a league game for the club