'We don't have defenders' - Maresca says he cannot rest key men

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says he is unable to rest key defenders for Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie at Lincoln City.

Maresca is expected to ring the changes when facing League One opposition in the third round on Tuesday.

However, when asked about whether centre-back pairing Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo will be given a rest, having played almost every minute in three consecutive matches, Maresca said: "I would love to rest both of them because they deserve to rest.

"The problem is that we also have Wes Fofana playing after a long time. So if we rest Tosin, if we rest Trev, and if we rest Wes, probably I need to play some part of the game.

"We don't have defenders so some of them need to play."

Chelsea will also be without goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after his fourth-minute sending off in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.

Sanchez is expected to be replaced by understudy Filip Jorgensen.

Maresca added: "Filip is going to help us in the moment.

"[I told Jorgensen] that he was going to play domestic cup games, he was going to play Premier League games and he was going to play Champions League games. It was a very easy conversation."

Chelsea have seven players either out or doubtful for the game, including talisman Cole Palmer and long-term injured defender Levi Colwill.