Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said he left Ross Barkley out of the starting line-up against Everton in order to rest him after Thursday’s Europa League match.
Barkley, who played in the win over BATE Borisov, was named among the substitutes for the game against his former club.
“Ross played for the 90 minutes in the last match three days ago,” Sarri told Sky Sports ahead of the televised match at Stamford Bridge.
“We are lucky because we have Kovacic – a great player who is fresh to play.”
Eden Hazard, fit again after a back problem, was named in the starting line-up.
Hazard for Pedro and Mateo Kovacic for Barkley were Sarri’s two changes from the recent league win against Crystal Palace.