Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi could be given first-team chance against Bournemouth

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will once again hand opportunities to his fringe players in the Carabao Cup against Bournemouth with Callum Hudson-Odoi also in his manager's thinking as he awaits a senior debut.

Willy Caballero, Michy Batshuayi, Charly Musonda and Kenedy were among the players handed first-team roles against Everton in the fourth round of the competition back in October and with the Blues back in Premier League action on Saturday [23 December] evening, Conte plans to make similar changes on Wednesday night (20 December).

Belgian talent Musonda will miss out against the Cherries due to a minor muscular problem but Conte explained at a press conference on Tuesday [19 December] the same players who featured in the previous round will be selected again.

"We will continue in this way, its right to continue to give the chance for the players who deserve to have the opportunity," Conte said when asked about Caballero, Batshuayi and Kenedy.

"For me, it is important to pay attention to their performances in these games. It is right to continue in this way, it is difficult to ask players to play every game, for example, [N'Golo] Kante played 10 games in a row. But when you do this it means you take great risk for injuries, for a lot of things."

Seventeen-year-old attacking midfielder Hudson-Odoi was a member of the England side that won the Under-17 World Cup in October, with another star of that team in Phil Foden since going onto make his senior debut for Manchester City.

Eighteen-year-old Dujon Sterling is another youngster to have already made his debut in the EFL Cup this season with 17-year-old Ethan Ampadu playing the full 90 minutes in the previous round against Everton.

Conte suggested both players are in his thoughts ahead Wednesday's match with Hudson-Odoi, a player he believes could play for Chelsea for the next "10 or 15 years" another who could be rewarded.

"Why not," Conte said when asked about the young Chelsea trio. "I think these players are the future for Chelsea, Sterling is very good player, Hudson-Odoi won the World Cup, Ampadu played the last game against Everton. Maybe he could start tomorrow.

"I must consider the young players if they deserve to have this chance. Sterling a lot of time is working with us [the senior team], Ampadu is every day with the first team and Odoi is another who deserves the chance to show he can play for this team for 10-15 years."

Elsewhere, David Luiz, whose future at the club remains in real doubt heading into the January transfer window, will miss out due to a knee problem.