Maresca has spoken publicly about the need to protect his players, with the Blues competing in five competitions this season and our 2024/25 season potentially running until July 13 due to the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA.

With so many talented players at his disposal, the cup competitions also offer Maresca the opportunity to give a larger portion of his squad crucial playing time.

The line-up against Barrow is still full of international experience and consists of players battling for a place in our Premier League starting line-up.

Danish U21 player Filip Jorgensen starts in goal and is protected by a back four consisting of French internationals Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto, as well as recently called-up Renato Veiga.

As Maresca confirmed in yesterday’s press conference, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will start in midfield alongside Italian U21 international Cesare Casadei, who will make his first start for Chelsea after eleven appearances as a substitute in the 2023/24 season.

Portuguese duo Joao Felix and Pedro Neto are also included, as is Ukrainian Mykhailo Mudryk, with French striker Christopher Nkunku expected to lead the attacking line.

Substitutes include U21 players Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George and Deivid Washington, as well as England internationals Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill.

World champion Enzo Fernandez also sits on the bench alongside Marcus Bettinelli and the talented teenager Marc Guiu.

Chelsea starting eleven: Jorgensen; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury Hall; Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku

Unused submarines: Bettinelli, Acheampong, Chilwell, Colwill, Fernandez, Chukwuemeka, George, Washington, Guiu