Chelsea dealt late Colwill injury blow vs Aston Villa

Chelsea have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Aston Villa as Levi Colwill pulled out of the starting XI less than half an hour before kick-off. The 20-year-old had been expected to play at left-back for Mauricio Pochettino.

Cobham graduate Alfie Gilchrist is named as his replacement. Gilchrist started Chelsea's third-round win over Preston.

Colwill warmed up with his Chelsea teammates at Stamford Bridge on Friday night but left the pitch early, heading straight down the tunnel. He already had some strapping on his left knee.

Goalkeeper Max Merrick takes Gilchrist's place on the Chelsea bench as an already youthful set of players gets even younger. Chelsea had made three changes from the side that beat Middlesbrough 6-1 on Tuesday as Pochettino looks to try and keep his 100% cup record going.

Pochettino will now have a back four of Axel Disasi - likely on the right - with Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile at centre-back. Gilchrist is a centre-back by trade himself but has been used as a right-back mainly this season from the bench, he is expected to take Colwill's place on the left.

Ben Chilwell dropped to the bench having started his first game in over three months against Boro. Conor Gallagher returns to captain the side once more. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez join him in midfield.

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Cole Palmer leads the line for Chelsea as a false nine with Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke on the flanks. The bench includes Chilwell as well as Mykhailo Mudryk and Deivid Washington for attacking impetus. Academy goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom is alongside Dylan Williams, Carney Chukwuemeka and Armando Broja in the squad.

Leo Castledine, who made his debut against Boro late on, is also included. Pochettino's squad has been heavily depleted in recent weeks through injury and this latest setback adds to the problems.

Malo Gusto was once more ruled out ahead of the fixture but is aiming for a return against Liverpool on Wednesday. Christopher Nkunku is in the same boat but Reece James, Marc Cucurella and Romeo Lavia are all longer-term absentees.