Chelsea vs Wolves Confirmed Lineups & Team News

London — Chelsea will attempt to keep their top-four ambitions on track when they host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, with interim boss Liam Rosenior forced to navigate a deepening injury list that has now swelled to as many as nine senior players.

Reece James and Pedro Neto were both late withdrawals ahead of the mid-week defeat to Arsenal, while Jamie Gittens tore his hamstring and joins long-term casualties Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Mykhailo Mudryka on the sidelines. Tosin Adarabioyo and Filip Jorgensen, who picked up minor knocks earlier this month, remain doubtful and were not updated in the club’s pre-match bulletin.

Despite the shortage of numbers, Rosenior has kept faith with a core of youth and experience. Rob Sanchez retains the gloves behind a back four of Malo Gusto, Wes Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella. Andrey Santos partners Moises Caicedo in the engine room, with Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto — passed fit after his scare — supplying ammunition for Joao Pedro. The bench is loaded with academy graduates, among them defenders Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato, midfielders Mamadou Sarr and Estevao, and forwards Liam Delap and Marc Guiu.

Opposite number Rob Edwards, meanwhile, has virtually a clean bill of health. The only absentee is centre-back Toti Gomes, who is still receiving treatment for a thigh complaint. Jose Sa drops to the bench, with Johnstone poised to take over in goal, while new signings Andre and Lima are expected to provide second-half impetus from the dug-out.

Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is scheduled for 14:00 GMT, with both managers aware that dropped points could prove costly: Chelsea are trying to stay in touch with the resurgent Manchester United and Liverpool, while Wolves are desperate to clamber off the foot of the table after a modest upturn in form at Molyneux.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Palmer; Joao Pedro.

Chelsea subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Badishile, Sarr, Hato, Garnahco, Estevao, Delap, Guiu.

Wolves subs: Johnstone, Wolfe, Andre, Lima, Gomes, Bellgarde, Krejci, Tchatchoua, Rawlings.