Chelsea's threadbare squad for their pre-season tour has left Blues fans fearing the worst already, given how new boss Mauricio Pochettino is taking just six midfielders with him to the US.
More alarmingly, those six midfielders – which include Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall, Andrey Santos and Cesare Casadei – have averaged just 7.6 starts in the Premier League each.
Fernandez and Gallagher are the Blues' only senior central midfielders in the squad, leaving Pochettino with a selection headache already.
Fernandez managed 18 starts in the Premier League in his debut campaign for the club last season following his record £107million move from Benfica in January, while Gallagher has racked up the same amount since making his Chelsea debut in 2022.