May 15, 2016 at 3pm UK at ​Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 41,494
Chelsea
1-1
LeicesterLeicester City
Fabregas (66' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Guus Hiddink: 'Chelsea academy stars likely to remain on bench'

Big bugger Guus Hiddink watches on during the Premier League game between Swansea City and Chelsea on April 9, 2016
© Getty Images
Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink hints that he will not take the opportunity to start any of the club's academy players against Leicester City.

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink has suggested that he will opt against starting any of the club's academy players against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.

Striker Tammy Abraham played the final 16 minutes of the 1-1 draw away at Liverpool on Wednesday night, with Kasey Palmer and Fikayo Tomori also featuring on the bench.

The Blues have little to play for in their final fixture of the season, but Hiddink has said that does not necessarily mean that the club's youngsters will secure a starting role.

In his pre-match press conference, the Dutchman said: "They must deserve it. They deserve it by working but it's a rather huge step to make and some need a little bit more time to practise with the first team.

"Recently we integrated Kasey Palmer with the first team but then they have to make a step, like Traore has done in the last half-year, more towards men's football. Abraham has done it because he's very open with his mentality and he works hard. He's not afraid to come in.

"We have talents in our Academy but that's the start, not the end. It's the start of working very hard and the players have to overcome the first period when they practice with the big guys. I'm not going to expose players at this moment."

Chelsea need to register three points against the Premier League champions to guarantee ninth place in the table.

Big bugger Guus Hiddink watches on during the Premier League game between Swansea City and Chelsea on April 9, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester382312368363281
2Arsenal382011765362971
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs381913669353470
4Manchester CityMan City381991071413066
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991049351466
6Southampton381891159411863
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham381614865511462
8Liverpool3816121063501360
9Stoke CityStoke38149154155-1451
10Chelsea381214125953650
11Everton381114135955447
12Swansea CitySwansea381211154252-1047
13Watford38129174050-1045
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381013153448-1443
15Crystal Palace38119183951-1242
16Bournemouth38119184567-2242
17Sunderland38912174862-1439
RNewcastle UnitedNewcastle38910194465-2137
RNorwich CityNorwich3897223967-2834
RAston Villa3838272776-4917