Pre-season gets truly underway tonight as Chelsea take on Mexican side Club America in Las Vegas. The Blues spent just shy of one week in Los Angeles enduring double sessions of training to kickstart their summer and prepare for the season ahead, before landing in Las Vegas ready to get down to business.
The Liga MX opposition are already into their stride, having played three league matches in their own season. Fernando Ortiz's side have recorded a win, loss and draw so far this term but will regardless be able to provide an intense test for a Chelsea group playing for the first time.
With a squad in excess of 30 out in the States, there are a great deal of players set to be handed an opportunity by Thomas Tuchel but it appears that Armando Broja and Raheem Sterling will not be among their number, while Kalidou Koulibaly is unlikely to don the kit for the first time, having only signed in the early hours of Saturday morning UK time.
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Thomas Tuchel said in his press conference ahead of the game: "He [Broja] had a little accident yesterday in training with the ball control and landed in a funny way on his ankle and Achilles. He is in pain but nothing is injured – we did the examinations and it's just pain. He is lucky that he did not get injured. We are lucky and happy that he did not injure himself.
"He is not in training and he is in treatment, Armando. For Raheem, we have not decided the line-up but he did not train every minute with the team so it is not very likely that he will play."
With plenty of options to pick from nevertheless, football.london takes a look at just a few players who could impress in Las Vegas.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
The 21-year-old had a difficult end to last season managing injuries and returned to Cobham this summer after plenty of work to try and return at the peak of fitness. A significant physical difference can be seen in Hudson-Odoi. The academy product probably started pre-season training earlier than anyone so should be primed for one of the longer displays of the night, although Tuchel has a number of options to pick from in the forward positions.
Ethan Ampadu
The Wales star returns from qualifying from the World Cup and an impressive loan to Venezia, hoping to earn his place in Chelsea's first-team squad. Earlier in the week, 21-year-old Ampadu spoke of his ambitions and his willingness to play multiple roles.
He said: "Everybody just wants to be on the pitch and thankfully I feel comfortable playing in more than one position. Hopefully I can get onto the pitch this season for Chelsea and help out the side. Wherever Thomas needs me, I’d be happy to play there. I’m more than comfortable playing, whether that’s at centre-back, in midfield or at right wing-back."
Where he is positioned when he faces Club America will operate as an interesting insight into where Tuchel could favour him.
Harvey Vale
Last year's development player of the season has not had much of a break after winning the under-19 UEFA Championship with England this summer, but saw further reward by joining up with the first team for pre-season alongside fellow youngster Teddy Sharman-Lowe.
How he moulds into the senior squad and whether he can leave a solid impression on Tuchel or a prospective loan destination will be interesting over the next week or so in the USA. Vale has less than a year remaining on his deal and the Blues will be hoping to extend that further.
Conor Gallagher
A player that has drawn more excitement than most following his very impressive start to life at Crystal Palace last season. Gallager has returned a man on a mission.
He said: “You can say it’s a gamble but I feel like I’m ready for a step up. If there is a chance to be a part of the squad at Chelsea and part of the team then I can’t turn it down. I feel like I’ve got to have belief in myself that I can help improve this team and I can show the fans and the boss what I can do.”
The role Tuchel slots him into will be interesting to see, particularly if the Blues retain a two-man midfield.
Levi Colwill
The impressive 19-year-old missed Chelsea's opening training ahead of the clash and as a result the thing to watch out for is his condition on Saturday night. The defender, who spent last year on loan at Huddersfield Town, has reached a pivotal summer where a role could be available with the Blues' limited defensive numbers.
Having been present on day one of pre-season, Club America could have drawn the youngsters first start, but it seems likely he will have to wait a little longer now. His fitness and Tuchel's comments should be able to guide what we can expect from Colwill for the rest of the summer.
And who plays up front?
With the departure of Romelu Lukaku, it remains all to play for at Chelsea in leading the forward line. Kai Havertz will be favourite for the coming season but both he and his rivals only returned to training a week ago, so there could be competition for places.
Broja is out injured, but how Tuchel rotates through Havertz, Timo Werner and Michy Batshuayi should be informative of each of their roles going forward, as well as that of Sterling when he eventually makes his debut.
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