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CHELSEA will be desperate to get back on the winning track when they entertain Crystal Palace on Saturday.
And the game could include the Premier League debut of new goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
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The Senegalese international impressed between the posts despite Chelsea losing to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
He will almost certainly get the gloves, with Chief Frank Lampard apparently at the end of his tether with Guardian Kepa.
Christian Pulisic is back in frame for the game, but will only make it to the bench at best as he recovers from injury.
The Blues were 3-0 down in their last Premier League game at West Brom, but somehow managed to snatch a 3-3 draw.
Callum Hudson-Odoi and the captain of the club, César Azpilicueta, were two players taken from the bench to rescue the situation.
And they both performed well enough to have a great chance to start Palace’s game.
Lampard’s big decision could be whether to play Tammy Abraham or Timo Werner at the top.
If Abraham gets the go-ahead, it could mean an open exit for the £ 52 million German signing from RB Leipzig.
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One player who will almost certainly miss this weekend is Marcos Alonso.
The left back was retired at halftime against Albion, and it was revealed that he went to watch the second half on the team bus.
Lampard was furious and made him go back and sit on the bench. He then gave the Spaniard a reprimand in front of his teammates after the match.
And Ross Barkley will definitely not appear, at least for Chelsea this weekend.
The 26-year-old midfielder joined Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season.
The arrival of Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech threatened to leave the ace out of Blues boss Lampard’s plans, with the Euros postponed lurking.
Midfielder Barkley said: “The last two years I’ve been on and off, performing well and then being out of the team. Coming here and having the opportunity to play regularly is something very important to me.
“The euros at the end of the season are a great goal, hopefully I can be there.
“Dean Smith convinced me with the way he spoke to me, it looks like it’s going to be an exciting season.”
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