Chelsea surprise 18-year-old academy star at Crystal Palace for the first time in the Premier League

Josh Acheampong will make his full Premier League debut for Chelsea in their clash against Crystal Palace.

The blues They arrived at Selhurst Park needing three points after three winless league games, including two defeats.

Enzo Maresca has named a young defense for the London derby, with 18-year-old Acheampong a surprise inclusion.

The right-back will start alongside Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella in what will be his first league start for Chelsea.

Acheampong, a Cobham academy graduate, made his senior debut for the club last season as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Tottenham.

He has appeared four more times for Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Conference League.

Maresca's move comes after he revealed that centre-back Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

“Unfortunately he could be out for the entire season,” he said during his pre-match press conference.

“We don't know exactly for the entire season, but we're sure he could be out for part of it.”

Benoit Badiashile is also expected to be out of action until February due to an injury he suffered last month.

Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi are two centre-backs called up on the bench, in addition to their fellow defenders Reece James and Renato Veiga.

Acheampong's full Premier League debut comes less than a month after signing a new contract with Chelsea until 2029.

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The deal came after a period in which the teenager was unable to play for the senior or youth teams until he signed a new deal.

Liverpool and Real Madrid were interested in the right-back, but he has remained at Chelsea.

Acheampong played in the entire Conference League victories over FC Astana and Shamrock Rovers in December.

He also came off the bench in the 5-0 rout of Barrow in the Carabao Cup, and Maresca now relies on him in the Premier League.