Andy Carroll is looking good having returned to training and virtually nailed on for a place in the line-up against Chelsea.
And that is likely to be the only enforced change with Michail Antonio suspended via the silly handball second bookable offence against Watford.
Kouyate set to continue in right back role
Carroll is in really serious action on the training ground with no holds being barred as he bids to being himself up to full fitness for the big test against the League leaders.
We were told this afternoon the big man looked fine and was over his groin injury but those who have played the game know that injuries in that area aren’t at all predictable.e
However, he has been training hard with no reaction and there’s big confidence he will take his place as the focal point of the attack.
Sam Byram is likely to be again on the bench with Chik Kouyate continuing in the troublesome right back role.
I won’t complain if he is fit for this one as I am a great fan. But my shaky memory tells me that he hasn’t often had much success against Chelsea. Might be that he has never been fit for their games of course! I think Antonio’s pace might have troubled them more. I seem to remember a game a couple of years back when we just could not get enough of the ball to play to his strength and he was isolated.