Chelsea star Cole Palmer could return to the first XI in a false nine capacity when the Blues welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge for Saturday's Premier League lunchtime kickoff.

The England international was sent off for two bookable offences in last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and served his one-match suspension in Chelsea's EFL Cup fourth-round loss to Liverpool in midweek.

With Joao Pedro out for a few weeks due to a thigh injury, Danny Welbeck failing to impress at Anfield and Emmanuel Emegha not yet up to speed, Palmer is a serious candidate to lead the line in a 4-3-3 system.

Pedro Neto and good friend Morgan Rogers would flank Palmer in that instance, while Jordan Henderson, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo operate in an identical midfield from Wednesday evening.

Caicedo was taken off in the 68th minute of the loss to Liverpool with a minor problem, but the Ecuadorian is expected to be available for Saturday, which is more than can be said for Maxence Lacroix.

The Frenchman sustained a hamstring injury at Anfield and was forced off just before half time, so Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill ought to shield stand-in goalkeeper Mike Penders.

Malo Gusto could not complete the full 90 of the cup defeat either due to cramps, but Jorrel Hato was always expected to return to the backline in West London.

Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Henderson, Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Rogers