Early Chelsea team news for Barrow clash confirmed as outcast gets a rare chance

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Ben Chilwell will make his season debut in tonight’s Carabao Cup match against Barrow. The 27-year-old has yet to play under Maresca after being listed for sale during the summer transfer window.

However, he has recently returned to main training sessions at Chelsea’s Cobham base.

With a game against Barrow on the horizon, Maresca is likely to rest some of his key players. Marc Cucurella, who has been in excellent form recently, is expected to be rested, paving the way for a contest between Chilwell and Renato Veiga for the left-back position.

“I think so,” Maresca said when asked if Chilwell would feature at Stamford Bridge. “Hopefully we can give him some minutes. The idea for him was to leave. In the moment that he is here, he is one of the squad. He is training.

“He was not in the squad against West Ham. He will be in the squad tomorrow. Hopefully we can give him some minutes.”

Meanwhile, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is set to start. The summer signing, 26, has only started twice for Chelsea since moving from Leicester City to Stamford Bridge – both times in the Conference League against Servette.

However, Dewsbury-Hall is set to be given an opportunity to shine tonight, with Maresca highlighting the need for him to adjust to his new surroundings after leaving the King Power Stadium. The Italian added: “I’m very happy with Kiernan.

“If we simply judge a team, or player because of the way they play or they win, but we also need to understand that Kiernan was the main player at Leicester. He has arrived here and he is not the main player. He is one of the players.

“For him, for any player in the world, you need to adapt because you were the main player here and now one of the players. That period requires time that you understand and adapt.

“I’m completely happy with Kiernan, the way he is doing. For sure, when you go inside the final 10 minutes, five minutes; it’s not easy for Kiernan or the rest of the players so you need to understand a little bit that situation from the other one when you were the main player.

“It is just a matter to adapt a little bit but I don’t have any doubts for Kiernan.”