James replacement, Caicedo decision, Madueke dropped - Chelsea XI Maresca should pick vs Leicester

We are back. After two weeks without a sniff of club football, Chelsea return to action on Saturday afternoon as they make the trip to Leicester City.

It is set to be an emotional day for Enzo Maresca, who will visit the King Power Stadium for the first time since he left the Foxes over the summer to become Blues head coach. While there is some time for emotion and embracing some of his former colleagues, Maresca has a job to do.

Being the professional that the Italian is, he will be well aware of that and be desperate for three points in Leicester. With an international break causing some injury problems and concerns for the Chelsea head coach, football.london's panel discusses the XI that should be fielded at the King Power Stadium.

Bobby Vincent

The big call from myself comes in attack. I would bench Noni Madueke and replace him with Jadon Sancho. Madueke has not been in brilliant form for Chelsea of late, despite another promising international break with England.

Sancho, who returned to training this week, in for Madueke and Pedro Neto, who was superb in the draw against Arsenal before the break, moving to the right wing. Cole Palmer as the No.10, of course, behind Nicolas Jackson.

In the middle of the park, it is difficult to know the fitness of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Both returned to Cobham on Thursday afternoon, where they were going to be assessed by the club after lengthy trips back from South America.

Romeo Lavia seems to be fine but Maresca may not want to take the risk of starting him. However, if the Belgian is fit enough to take part, then I would absolutely start him alongside Caicedo with Fernandez remaining on the bench.

In defence, it seems pretty obvious that Malo Gusto will move to right-back with Reece James being ruled out due to another hamstring injury. Marc Cucurella on the left-hand side with Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana in the middle and Robert Sanchez as the goalkeeper again.

Bobby's preferred XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.

Sam Truelove

A Saturday lunch-time kick-off poses a few problems for Maresca, although Sanchez will likely start in goal as he continues to be the Italian's No.1 this season. Fofana and Levi Colwill have formed a decent partnership at centre-back and that should continue at Leicester, given the pair are fit enough to start as both pulled out of international duty with injury last week.

Cucurella is my choice at left-back while James' fresh hamstring injury picked up earlier this week means Gusto comes in at right-back. Gusto has performed well in his nine Premier League appearances this term and I wouldn't bet against him picking up his second assist of the season against the Foxes.

The midfield selection really does depend on the fitness of Lavia, Caicedo and Fernandez. I feel Caicedo has to start as he's been immense under Maresca, while Fernandez edges it for me out of the other two. Lavia may still be nursing an injury and it's important not to rush the Belgium international back.

Madueke would be my pick on the right wing, with Sancho on the left given he has spent valuable time on the training pitches with Maresca over the international break. Palmer will be looking to score his eighth league goal of the season against Leicester and will play just behind Nicolas Jackson, who has looked electric himself.

Sam's preferred XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.