Callum Hudson-Odoi will make a long-awaited return for Chelsea in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash against Grimsby.
The winger has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon in April and has watched from the sidelines while the club changed manager.
Frank Lampard has replaced Maurizio Sarri and Hudson-Odoi has also signed a new five year contract worth £47 million while on the road to recovery.
Rookie right-back Reece James is also in line for his first team debut against League Two Grimsby.
Boss Lampard said: “They will be involved on Wednesday night, they’ll be involved.
“We certainly need to look at players that haven’t been playing as much against Grimsby.
“We’ll pay them due respect, but it’s certainly a case of getting minutes for players who haven’t been playing. Callum is on the road to recovery.
“It was a long injury, so he needs game time and Reece similarly.”
James has been playing for the Under-23 Chelsea side to gain vital minutes of action to prepare him to replace captain Cesar Azpilicueta in the starting line up.
James, 19, underwent ankle surgery in the summer. Winger Christian Pulisic is also in line for a recall to the first team as Lampard prepares to make a raft of changes from the side beaten 2-1 by Liverpool on Sunday.
Lampard said: “I expect the same level of performance and I don’t want to lose the feeling of how we can be. It’s important we keep that.”
