Why Raheem Sterling has been surprisingly ‘dropped’ to Chelsea’s bench vs Fulham

Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling has been dropped to the bench because he’s not trained in the last three days due to a virus he picked up.

The England forward was expected to start as the false nine with Nicolas Jackson suspended for the game, but it is Armando Broja who gets his first start in almost a year because Mauricio Pochettino is short of men in the attacking front.

He told Sky Sports ahead of the game: “Yes the main reason is that we do not have Sterling because he has not trained in the last three days due to virus.

“He is here in the team and we have but he can’t start so hopefully Armando can rise up to the competition and help us today because he has been training well.”

Chelsea have had a tough start to the season with just five points from their first six games and are yet to win a game away from home.

The Blues have never started a league season as bad as they have in Premier League history and the game against Fulham and next week’s game against Burnley are expected to be all three points before a really challenging schedule kicks in after the international break.

Goals have been a problem as they have created chances but the finishing hasn't been good enough with striker Nicolas Jackson having just one league goal in six games with Raheem Sterling the highest scorer in the league with two goals.