Astana v Chelsea team news with 2 doubts and 4 outs of Europa Conference League clash

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to usher in changes for the midweek Europa Conference League trip to Astana as the matches come thick and fast ahead of the festive period.

The Blues are reportedly ready to take 11 academy players on the 7,000 mile round trip to Kazakhstan as Maresca looks to avoid any injuries to first team stars ahead of a crunch period in the Premier League campaign.

While there has been no confirmation as to how many academy players will be on the plane, 11 names have been listed in the Chelsea squad - Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson, Tyrique George, Kiano Dyer, Harrison McMahon, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Ato Ampah, Max Merrick, Josh Acheampong, Shumaira Mheuka and Richard Olise. Here's your latest team news.

Astana team news

Sporting News reports that Astana have a fully fit squad ready to try and pull off a remarkable upset against Chelsea. The Kazakhstan Premier League finished in mid November and the lack of fixtures means that Grigori Babayan's team are in good shape when it comes to injuries and a full strength XI is expected on Thursday afternoon.

Chelsea team news

Romeo Lavia is the latest injury worry for Enzo Maresca and Chelsea. The midfielder came off at half time in the madness of the victory of Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend with a hamstring niggle.

Speaking after the game, Maresca appeared to hint that it was a precaution but it seems unlikely that the manager would risk the 20-year-old against Astana. The Blues boss said: “Unfortunately he felt something in his hamstring in the last minutes of the first half. Now, he’s walking without any pain. It was a small thing.

“Since we started, I don’t like to lose players for five, six, seven games in a row. Even if Romeo was playing fantastic, we tried to change because he had a problem.”

Mykhailo Mudryk has been missing from action since the Conference League win over Heidenheim at the end of November due to illness. He was still not recovered in time to face Spurs but could be back for Thursday.

Talking ahead of the Spurs fixture, Maresca said: “The other one [to miss out] is still ill is Misha Mudryk and the rest are okay.”

Wesley Fofana and Reece James both have hamstring problems and aren't expected back until the New Year. Omari Kellyman has an issue with the same muscle and has been a longer term lay-off this season.

Cesare Casadei was sent off against Heidenheim having been shown two yellow cards and is therefore suspended for the trip to Kazakhstan.

Doubts - Romeo Lavia, Mykhailo Mudryk. Outs - Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Omari Kellyman, Cesare Casadei.