Chelsea XI vs Morecambe: Confirmed team news, starting lineup and latest injury list for FA Cup

Frank Lampard has named his Chelsea squad to face Morecambe
ES Composite

Chelsea are missing both Reece James and N’Golo Kante for today’s FA Cup third-round tie against Morecambe, though the hosts are still fielding a strong XI.

Kante has suffered a minor hamstring strain, while James is yet to recover from the same issue in time for this afternoon’s third-round game.  

But the right-back is nearing a return and is expected to be available for Chelsea’s clash with Fulham next week. Andreas Christensen is also out of the Morecambe game, but he is close to recovering from a knee injury.  

Frank Lampard has called up a host of academy players to bolster his squad ahead of the match after new Covid-19 regulations allowed clubs to expand their bubbles.

Henry Lawrence, Lewis Bate, Tino Anjorin, Tino Livramento and Jude Soonsup-Bell have all been training with the first team this week, though only Anjorin makes the matchday squad.

Lampard said: “It’s a great experience for them and it’s something I’ve wanted to do and last season was able to do pre-restart.

“It helps training because it’s really important to have competitive training and having young players enables you to be really competitive with killing the other players physically in between games.”

Lampard also defended Christensen after the defender was criticised for staying down in the build-up to Aston Villa’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea over Christmas. 

He confirmed his knee injury had been sustained in that challenge with Jack Grealish.  

“It was absolutely from that moment in the Villa game,” said the Chelsea manager. “It’s probably a typical modern-day reaction where Andreas has taken stick.  

“He’s out, but the injury isn’t too bad which is good news for him. He’ll be back training with us tomorrow.”  

Chelsea starting XI : Kepa, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger, Emerson, Mount, Gilmour, Havertz, Ziyech, Werner, Hudson-Odoi

Subs: Caballero, Jorginho, Abraham, Tomori, Kovacic, Giroud, Chilwell, Anjorin