Cesare Casadei finds himself in the unusual territory of being Chelsea's oldest outfield player for Thursday's Premier League derby clash against Tottenham despite being just 21-years-old.
Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino is dealing with his biggest injury crisis of the season as 14 first-team players were unable to play a part in the Stamford Bridge hosting of Chelsea's London rivals.
Veteran defender Thiago Silva - who announced he will leave the club at the end of the season - is joined by fellow defensive absentee Axel Disasi who is also nursing an injury.
Other sidelined players include Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernandez, Ben Chilwell, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Robert Sanchez, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia.
The Blues have named a bench that features 31-year-old goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli as the most senior player, but the majority of the outfield contingent are still in their teens, with only two stars over the age of 20.
Italian forward Casadei is the oldest at the age of 21, with Jimi Tauriainen the second most senior at just 20.
Deivid Washington (18), Zak Sturge (19), Leo Castledine (19), Joshua Kofi Acheampong (17), Tyrique George (18), and Kiano Dyer (17) take up the rest of the spots in the dugout.
That results in Chelsea's outfield substitutes having an average age of just 18-years-old.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou can call on more experienced replacements as the visitor's bench boasts an average age of 24years and 252days.
Tottenham's substitutes also have 664 Premier League appearances between them, while Chelsea's have just 16.
Blues boss Pochettino was unable to pinpoint a reason as to why his squad had been hit with so many injuries at such a crucial time during the season, but vowed everything possible is being done.
'Always things we can do better, of course. We all feel the responsibility. Then it is too many circumstances to explain why. It is difficult to explain with one word or sentence.
'Of course, we are working to try and improve. We have amazing medical staff, performance area, coaching staff – we all have experience managing clubs and being in this business.
'When some circumstances arrive, sometimes it can happen, of course we need to put all of the information on the table and to be better next season,' he added.
Ruoinpsty
2
Chelsea should just sell Wesley Fofana at all cost or just terminate his contract, he's just a waste of money and space.
Fofana is a great player better than all our cbs,u can’t blame him blame our medics
Jiodklmopt
0
Chelsea should just sell Wesley Fofana at all cost or just terminate his contract, he's just a waste of money and space.
Why? So LAVIA and NKUNKU have justified their prices? Fofana will later do well at Chelsea.... blame our Medics!
Taodiknstu
2
this game thought me ,u don't need big name players to win games
biaceims
2
Chelsea should just sell Wesley Fofana at all cost or just terminate his contract, he's just a waste of money and space.
Pubabeipry
0
Fofana and Lavia are a waste of money for Chelsea
What that chicken 🐔 Nkunku
sodceiorz
2
poch refused to giving injuries as excuses. injury hasn't be fair to poch
saoadnprsy
5
Fofana and Lavia are a waste of money for Chelsea
fikaklmnr
1
Chelsea problems are spiritual, they only needs spiritual solutions, since James took over the captaincy is injury upon injury Nkuku another Good player injury and many more
Gbengababs
2
Poch who's position is not safe is trying to save another's How can you say the medical team is amazing with the nonsense they are doing since Bhoely took over? Those medical team should be scrapped!
Vanclmrty
0
Maybe it's time for little boys to take on the mantle as we all saw young lads win Liverpool a Carabao Cup when it was struggling with the injury crisis in the senior team 🤔💭
Yawanoty
5
You can't blame Pochettino for the injuries in the team. It could be that the person in charge of the injury system is not doing well and for that matter a lot of injuries. They have to look at it