Matt Law confirms early team news with attacking midfielder “not in the Chelsea squad”

We’re still hours away from the team news coming out for Chelsea’s game against Manchester City this afternoon, but we’ve already got one absence confirmed.

Matt Law has just Tweeted that attacking midfielder Joao Felix is not in the Chelsea squad for the game because he’s had to “fly home following a family bereavement.” The player has been granted “compassionate leave” and there is no indication yet of when he might return.

All our best wishes go to Joao and his family.

Enzo Maresca loses another name from increasingly depleted squad

On the football side, this leaves Chelsea without an important attacking option. With Cole Palmer having played through injury on Monday night, we expected there to be a good chance he doesn’t last the full 90 today, and Felix would be one of the most natural replacements.

Instead Christopher Nkunku – who is himself in an odd position as reports about him leaving the club continue to swirl – will likely be the first attacking name called upon if we need a spark. Mykhailo Mudryk is out of the picture too, and Pedro Neto isn’t in great form. We’re starting to get a little stretched in attack as the long grind of the season wears us down.

However the team’s real gap at the moment is in midfield, where a half-fit Enzo Fernandez is expected to return after missing out against Wolves on Monday. With Romeo Lavia out, Enzo and Moises Caicedo will have to hold down the midfield against Man City, a big ask no matter what kind of form they’re in.

One thing is for sure – we’re going to have to score at least a couple of goals if we want to win this game. So we hope our remaining attackers have their shooting boots on.