Xabi Alonso has named the Chelsea starting lineup to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

Xabi Alonso has made two changes to the starting lineup ahead of Chelsea's clash against Sunderland.

Speaking to reporters at Cobham Training Ground on Friday afternoon, Alonso revealed that Emiliano Martinez could be in contention to face the Black Cats, subject to a late fitness test. The goalkeeper, who underwent surgery on a fractured jaw four weeks ago, returned to action earlier this week.

"He's training well," said the Chelsea manager. "All the decisions are tough; you know the positions, but it's very good that Emi has made a great effort to be back, that he's been, you know, ahead of the plans to be part of the team, and tomorrow we will check, and Sunday we will take the final decision."

Martinez has been sporting a face mask in training. When asked where he got it from, Alonso joked: "The mask I guess is from a specialist, not from a Halloween shop, I guess [laughs]. I guess specialist for sure."

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On whether it'll be an 'obstruction', the Spaniard said: "He's getting used [to it]; for sure, it's not the most comfortable thing, but he's getting used to it. He's been training almost the whole week with it.

"For a certain period of time, I'm sure that he will have to deal with it and to cope with it. He's been doing everything with it, so it's not [an] obstruction, and we have the green light from the doctors after the concussion. It's been already three weeks, so we have everything."

Moises Caicedo was absent from training at Cobham on Wednesday morning. When quizzed about the midfielder's availability, Alonso said: "Well, after the last game he had little problems, so we expect to check tomorrow (Saturday), a different situation, and Moi is one of them. It's a discomfort more than the calf."

Chelsea could spend the upcoming international break in the top four of the Premier League with a win over Sunderland. Reflecting on what has been a turbulent, but promising, start to the season, Alonso said: "The table means not too much because that can change so much in one week.

"In two games, you can be fourth, so we are taking a step forward I think. With the ball, against the ball, be more solid, and we have a tough opponent to visit, Sunderland.

"We know what it takes to win there. We know how demanding it will be. It doesn't matter, the table. I think that they deserve more points than they got, and it's going to be a tough game away."

The Spaniard added: "As I've said, early early days to talk too much about the table; we need to keep winning, winning, winning and to build this mentality to go game by game."

Chelsea starting lineup to face Sunderland: Mike Penders; Marco Palestra, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Pep Chavarria; Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo (C), Jordan Henderson; Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto.

Substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Anselmino, Gusto, Barco, Ncioll-Jazuli, Quenda, Estevao, Welbeck, Emegha.