Chelsea vs Wrexham: Confirmed team news, Pochettino’s message to young squad

Chelsea face Wrexham in the opening game of their 2023 pre-season tour of the United States and the team news is in from the Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Mauricio Pochettino has brought out a 29-man squad with him to America, with Reece James set to join up with his Chelsea teammates soon following illness.

The new head coach is excited to get going and watch his side for the first time since taking over and wants the young group to show they are capable and have what it takes to play for Chelsea.

Ahead of the pre-season friendly, Pochettino said: “Maybe with young players you achieve what you want. (It) is going to be a good possibility to see the young guys, to show they are ready to play for a club like us. No pressure but they need to show us.”

The friendly will get underway at 1am BST time, 8pm local time, and will be available to watch on the official Chelsea website and the club’s 5th Stand App. Click here for the full details.

Here is the confirmed team news from the Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina:

Chelsea

Starting XI: Cumming, Gusto, Chalobah, Humphreys, Cucurella, Santos, Casadei, Moreira, Chukwuemeka, Maatsen, Jackson

Bench: Kepa, Bergstrom, Silva, Sterling, Chilwell, Gallagher, Angelo, Nkunku, Hall, Gilchrist

Wrexham

Starting XI: Foster, O’Connell, Tozer, O’Connor, Forde, Jones, Cannon, Lee, Mendy, Dalby, Mullin

Bench: Lainton, Barnett, McFadzean, Cleworth, Boyle, Hayden, Young, Davies, McAlinden, Palmer, Waters