Chelsea v Charlton Athletic

SOULEYMANE DIAWARA is certain to be plunged in at the deep end against Premiership champions Chelsea on Saturday.

Charlton are critically short of central defenders for the trip to Stamford Bridge as Hermann Hreidarsson is about to start a three-match suspension, Gonzalo Sorondo has fractured a bone in his back, while Jonathan Fortune is nursing a broken toe.

So the 27-year-old Senegal international will be handed his debut against the Blues' new star striker Andriy Shevchenko.

The Addicks were the only team to take any points off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the league last season when they battled their way to a 1-1 draw in January.

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