Team News: Christopher Nkunku handed Chelsea start against Wolverhampton Wanderers

Christopher Nkunku starts for Chelsea against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.

Christopher Nkunku has been handed a start for Chelsea against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Sunday’s Premier League fixture.

The versatile attacker made his latest return from injury on Wednesday, scoring as a substitute in the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool.

However, Nkunku is handed just his second Premier League start by Mauricio Pochettino, taking his spot down the middle of the frontline alongside Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling.

Nkunku comes in ahead of Noni Madueke, while the only other change sees Malo Gusto start at right-back and Benoit Badiashile drop down to the substitutes’ bench.

Carney Chukwuemeka has to remain patient for a return to the starting lineup, despite providing Nkunku with the assist at Anfield, with Nicolas Jackson back from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal to join him among the replacements.

© Reuters

Meanwhile, Gary O’Neil has opted to make three alterations from the Wolves side that suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Thursday.

Rayan Ait-Nouri returns at left wing-back, getting the nod over Matt Doherty, while Joao Gomes makes his first start for a month in replacing Tommy Doyle in midfield.

Pablo Sarabia also comes back into the starting lineup at the expense of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, with Matheus Cunha moving back into the centre of the attack.

Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Chilwell; Caicedo, Gallagher, Fernandez; Palmer, Nkunku, Sterling
Subs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Badiashile, Gilchrist, Casadei, Chukwuemeka, Madueke, Mudryk, Jackson

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa; Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Neto, Cunha, Sarabia
Subs: Bentley, Doherty, S.Bueno, H.Bueno, Doyle, Bellegarde, Griffiths, Chirewa, Fraser

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