Enzo Maresca to consider three big Chelsea changes for Southampton clash amid latest injury dilemma

Chelsea have even more Premier League action in just over 24 hours' time as they take on struggling Southampton down on the south coast.

The Blues, who are now in third place in the table, battle it out against the bottom-of-the-league Saints at St Mary's. After a comfortable 3-0 victory against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, there is not a lot of time for Enzo Maresca and his players to prepare for the next match.

Wednesday night's clash will be the first time Chelsea have had Premier League action in midweek this season. In the other two competitions the Blues have been involved in, the UEFA Conference League and the Carabao Cup, those games have seen Maresca heavily rotate his side.

So it remains to be seen whether he will follow suit at Southampton given it is a Premier League game and that appears to be Maresca and Chelsea's priority this season. One thing is for sure and that is Maresca will be forced to make one change and it will come in the centre of defence.

Wesley Fofana injured his hamstring an hour into Sunday's win against Villa and is set to be ruled out for a few weeks. Benoit Badiashile has impressed in recent weeks and he could be used on the left-hand side of a back-two alongside Levi Colwill.

Malo Gusto could come back into the side after starting on the bench at the weekend. Moises Caicedo was used as a right-back off the ball but Gusto could come in there and the Ecuadorian may switch into midfield as usual.

Romeo Lavia may well be rested after being given 86 minutes against Villa. Chelsea remain cautious with the Belgium international given his injury history and playing two games in the space of four days may be too much of a risk for the midfielder.

Noni Madueke could come back in on the right wing. Jadon Sancho performed well on Sunday but the fitness of the 24-year-old always needs to be considered. We could well see Pedro Neto move out to the left-hand side with Madueke on the right, Cole Palmer as the No.10 behind Nicolas Jackson.

Christopher Nkunku could be in for a shout to start but given Palmer's significance to the team and Jackson's recent form, where does the Frenchman fit in? He has played off the left-hand side before but he always seems to perform better when used in a central role.

Joao Felix, too, is in a similar boat. Mykhailo Mudryk will also be hoping to get some minutes under his belt after being an unused substitute in the 3-0 win against Villa.

Possible Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto (in for Lavia), Colwill, Badiashile (in for Fofana), Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke (in for Sancho), Palmer, Neto; Jackson.