How Chelsea will line-up at Ajax without injured Ross Barkley and N’Golo Kante in Champions League
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CHELSEA boss Frank Lampard faces Ajax in the Champions League with Ross Barkley struggling to be fit.
The England midfielder turned his ankle against Newcastle on Saturday and joins N'Golo Kante, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger on the injured list.
A slight groin problem picked up while warming up for France a week ago has sidelined Kante, much to Lampard's frustration.
The Blues coach blamed a lack of communication between the player's club and country for the injury, describing it as "no laughing matter".
Mateo Kovacic was fit to come off the bench for the win over Newcastle after a fitness issue of his own and is well placed to come in for Barkley on Wednesday.
That gives Lampard the opportunity to keep disruption to a minimum and play an otherwise unchanged XI.
The trip to Amsterdam promises to be the toughest of the Champions League group stage, unbeaten Ajax sitting top of both Group H and the Eredivisie.
Chelsea picked up a vital victory away at Lille last time out and Lampard could replicate the 3-4-2-1 formation he deployed in northern France.
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Given his lack of centre-backs, that would likely see Cesar Azpilicueta play in the middle with Reece James coming in down the right.
Kovacic and Jorginho are primed for the central midfield roles and a decision would have to be made in attack, Mason Mount vying with Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The Blues are well-stocked for wingers though with Pedro and Christian Pulisic also in contention, the American making a promising cameo off the bench on Saturday that perhaps should have included his first Chelsea goal.
