Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer are among those returning to Chelsea’s starting XI for their Premier League clash against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

Head coach Enzo Maresca stated after our midweek Conference League win over Panathinaikos that changes would be made for today’s game and he has kept his word, making ten changes from the team that started in Athens.

Robert Sanchez returns in goal for the Blues – Filip Jorgensen is among the substitutes – and the defense gets a new look: Reece James starts at right-back, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill are the central defenders and Malo Gusto takes over at left-back.

Neither Moises Caicedo nor Romeo Lavia traveled to Greece but are back in the starting XI this afternoon after impressing in our last Premier League game at Liverpool.

Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer return to our attack, while Pedro Neto is the only man to retain his place in the team after Thursday night’s European game.

Nicolas Jackson, also one of those who stayed home in midweek, returns to the team to lead the front line. The Senegal international has scored five goals in eight Premier League games this season.

Chelsea: Sanchez; James (c), Fofana, Colwill, Gusto; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson

Chelsea substitute: Jorgensen, Cucurella, Tosin, Veiga, Enzo, Joao Felix, Mudryk, Sancho, Nkunku