Chelsea hope to have Cole Palmer and Reece James fit and available for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final showdown with Arsenal tonight.

The duo, along with Malo Gusto, missed Saturday’s comfortable 5-1 win over Charlton in their FA Cup third round clash, rested after emerging from last week’s defeat to Fulham with minor knocks.

It is likely Palmer and James would have been rested regardless at the Valley but for the visit of the Premier League leaders, Liam Rosenior will surely call upon the big guns.

Tonight’s game will provide the first real indication of what the new head coach’s first choice starting XI looks like and who will be his preferred option up top; Joao Pedro or Liam Delap.

Neither man caused too many problems for the Arsenal backline when the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in November.

Moises Caicedo, sent off in that game, will serve his third suspension of the season tonight, opening the door for Andrey Santos to start alongside Enzo Fernandez once again.

James however is also an option, thriving in that role through the middle in the league meeting two months ago.

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