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Chelsea team news: Predicted 4-3-3 line up to face Ajax – Injuries force Lampard's hand
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is without a number of injured players ahead of the Blues' Champions League clash with Ajax tonight (5.55pm BST).
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Frank Lampard will have to juggle his squad due to several injuries ahead of Chelsea’s latest Champions League match against Ajax.
The Blues could be without as many as six first-team players when they face the Dutch champions at the Johan Cruyff Arena, with Ross Barkley the latest star to be sidelined.
The England international picked up an ankle injury during the 1-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend and missed training on Tuesday while N’Golo Kante was also not involved at Cobham.
The World Cup winner suffered a groin injury while on international duty, having only recently returned from a knee problem.
Kante has also been hampered by separate ankle and hamstring problems this campaign and will not feature in Amsterdam.
The pair join Andreas Christensen and Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the treatment table and both Antonio Rudiger and Emerson Palmieri are also unlikely to feature.
However, Rudiger and Palmieri both took part in training on Tuesday and are closing in on a return to full fitness.
Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori will continue in central defence for Chelsea while Marcos Alonso should retain his spot at left-back.
Meanwhile, Reece James is available for selection and is in contention to displace Cesar Azpilicueta on the opposite side of the back four.
Jorginho will be joined by Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount in midfield while Lampard has a tough selection in attack.
Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi both started against Newcastle and could get the nod in support of Tammy Abraham once again.
However, Pedro and Christian Pulisic are both pushing for starts while Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are also hunting for more game time and offer alternatives up front.
Chelsea predicted line-up vs Ajax – Champions League
(4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount; Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham