How should Chelsea line up against Wolves to begin the season in earnest?

The international break is over and football is back! For Chelsea, that means a trip to Wolverhampton, to take on Wolves at Molineux. Not exactly an easy proposition and the Blues’ continuing injury woes certainly aren’t helping.

Chelsea’s injury list has swelled to eight in the last couple weeks, though only Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to (still) miss a significant amount of time. (And Marco van Ginkel, but he’s not really being counted in this scenario.)

Lampard will be hoping to have N’Golo Kanté, Antonio Rüdiger, and Pedro ready to return from their respective injuries, while also hoping that Mateo Kovačić’s Achilles issue and Emerson’s thigh problem, both new concerns, aren’t serious issues.

Speaking of mythical heroes, Callum Hudson-Odoi is getting close to his return, but is likely to first play at least one recovery game with the U23s, perhaps as early as tomorrow (Friday). He could be joined by Reece James in that game as both youngsters continue to work towards match fitness.

With a busy, tough schedule ahead — Wolves, Valencia, Liverpool in the course of eight days before a League Cup match against fourth division opposition — some solid decisions will have to be made.

Choose wisely.

(Live results)