It is a 12.30pm kick-off UK time, with a dozen of the East Midlanders’ squad returning from international duty for this match and slightly fewer from the visitors’ camp.

The club world champions have won three and drawn one of the past five Premier League matches immediately following FIFA breaks.

The Londoners have pocketed all the points from six of the past seven fixtures in the early Saturday slot, most recently the 2-0 home victory over Fulham in August. Forest’s only lunch-time kick-off this season ended in a 3-0 loss at Arsenal.

After his touchline sprint celebrating teenager Estevao Willian’s euphoric winner against Liverpool before the break, Enzo Maresca is banned from the technical area for this game, though key players could return after injury or suspension.

It has been a troubled start for his would-be counterpart on the opposite bench. Ange Postecoglu became the first Forest manager since John Baynes in 1925 not to win any of his opening seven matches on all fronts. Coincidentally, two games in that run a century ago were against Chelsea.

The Blues have a fine recent record on the banks of the Trent, winning four and drawing two of the past seven trips. Two years ago the Londoners edged a five-goal thriller and, in May, Levi Colwill’s goal claimed the points and UEFA Champions League qualification.

Team news

Maresca will be able to welcome three players back into the fold for Saturday's trip to Nottingham, as Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Andrey Santos all returned to training during the international break and are available for selection again after missing our victories over Benfica and Liverpool.

However, there were still question marks over the potential involvement of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto going into Friday's final training session at Cobham before this game.

'They didn't take part in the session yesterday, but we will see if they can train today. Otherwise, they would be out for tomorrow,' explained Maresca in his pre-match press conference.

There was also bad news from our head coach on the return of Cole Palmer and a fresh injury problem for Benoit Badiashile.

‘Unfortunately, Cole needs to be out for probably six more weeks, this is the update,' said the Italian.

'We try to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that when he comes back, he is fully fit. We hope the six weeks will be enough, but it’s a problem that we need to look at step-by-step, week-by-week, but for sure he is going to be okay.

'Benoit will be out until December. He is injured again with a muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, showing how good he is, and how we need him. So we will wait for him.'

The history

Historically the City Ground was a most inhospitable field for Chelsea teams. It took five visits before the Londoners registered our maiden success - after three defeats and a draw - in Division Two on 17 February 1912, striker Bob Whittingham claiming a hat-trick in a 3-2 win.

Then, 10 years later, on Boxing Day 1922, the team’s first victory for 10 weeks came at Forest’s home in a 4-0, young Tyneside centre-forward James Armstrong claiming two.

Our best scoreline there came 100 years ago in August 1925, again in the second tier, during the hosts’ historic winless run that Postecoglu just equalled.

Chelsea ruthlessly exploited knowledge gleaned from having officially trialled the early offside system months before it was officially introduced for some big victories, including 5-1 against Forest at their place. The visitors even netted the Nottingham side's goal for them, defender Jack Harrow misplacing a clearance into his own net.

Half a century later in January 1976, Eddie McCreadie’s young braves felled Brian Clough’s Forest with an impressive 3-1 win, spectacular late goals from Ray Wilkins and Ian Hutchinson settling the score.

Five winless visits were followed in February 1987 by a Pat Nevin-inspired 1-0 in the top flight. Garry Birtles looked certain to level from the spot for his 16th of the season, but Tony Godden saved low to secure the points. That was rare relief for the Blues, between infamous 6-0 and 7-0 thrashings.

Thankfully the Premier League era has been far less stressful, particularly since November 1994, when John Spencer collected Dennis Wise’s subtle lob and beat Mark Crossley for the only goal of the game.

Most recently, the Londoners collected all three points on our last two visits, both at the end of May. In 2024 two late goals, from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson, completed a 3-2 comeback, while last season Colwill’s finish sealed the vital win that secured a Champions League place.

Know this...

Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are the joint fifth-highest goal scorers in the Premier League.

Chelsea have scored five goals from set-plays in the top flight this season (second only to Arsenal’s seven).

Facundo Buonanotte has found the net on two of his three Premier League visits to the City Ground.

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur head coach Postecoglu has lost all four previous encounters with the Blues – 11-4 on aggregate goals.

Forest have not managed a clean sheet in 19 matches across all competitions and only Wolverhampton Wanderers (11) and West Ham United (10) have conceded more home goals than their five.

Nottingham Forest have not scored at home after half-time so far this season.

The Blues have been caught offside 15 times this season, the joint most in the top flight.

Against South Korea during the international break, 18-year-old Estevao became the youngest player to score twice in the same match for Brazil since Coutinho in 1961.

Forest’s only league win since November 2024, while claiming more than 50 per cent possession, was against Brentford on this season’s opening day.