Cole Palmer is among four senior players left out of Chelsea’s UEFA Europa Conference League squad.
The other three players who have been purposefully left are Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana.
According to BBC Sport, Chelsea could play about 80 matches this season in five competitions.
The decision was made to rest star man Palmer in the league phase of Europe’s third tier competition, with Lavia and Fofana working their way back from long-term injuries.
Chelsea can re-register the trio for the knockout rounds on 6 February when squads can be re-submitted.
Young midfielders Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka, and striker Marc Guiu have been selected in their place as the Blues look to spread minutes around fringe players in a competition they are strong favourites to win.
Left-back Chilwell, however, has been dropped and continues to be on the fringes at Stamford Bridge.
Manager Enzo Maresca has told the former Leicester defender he has no future at Chelsea and Chilwell has been offered to multiple Premier League clubs this summer.
Chilwell is unlikely to play for Chelsea again this season despite the club’s participation in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Conference League and expanded Club World Cup in June 2025.
It is unclear if the 27-year-old will even train with Maresca’s first-team squad amid reports linking him with a move to Turkey where the transfer window remains open.
