Premier League leaders Chelsea face FA Cup holders Manchester United in a quarter-final clash on Monday night (7.45pm kick-off).

Antonio Conte’s men went ten points clear at the top of the league courtesy of a 2-1 success at West Ham last week, their fifth win in seven and 21st victory of the campaign.

The Blues have so far got past lower league opposition to reach the last eight of the FA Cup, with comfortable home wins over Peterborough and Brentford followed by a 2-0 triumph at giant-killers Wolves in the last round.

However, Monday night will be their toughest test yet as Jose Mourinho’s United have lost just once since the start of November, and have given themselves a chance of finishing inside the Premier League’s top four this season.

The Red Devils are sixth in the table and only three points adrift of Liverpool in fourth, and with their participation also ongoing in the Europa League, having already won the League Cup, Mourinho could still end his debut season with three trophies.

Nonetheless, his men will have to get past a Chelsea team that have suffered just one defeat since October, yet Conte may decide to give a few fringe players an opportunity on Monday night.

Thus, here are THREE Chelsea players who deserve a chance against United on Monday…

Kurt Zouma

Defender Kurt Zouma is slowly but surely building up his fitness after nine months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The 22-year-old sustained the injury in the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Monday’s opponents back in February 2016, and didn’t appear again for the club until their 4-1 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup earlier this season.

And since then the French international has started both their fourth round and fifth round successes, as well as made three substitute appearances in the Premier League.

Zouma is clearly a very talented defender who needs minutes on the pitch, so expect to see him start against United on Monday.

Nathan Ake

Nathan Ake was recalled from a successful loan spell at Bournemouth to provide Conte with another defensive option, most likely as an alternative to Marcos Alonso at left wing-back.

However, the 22-year-old has only featured in the FA Cup for the Blues, starting the fourth round victory at home to Brentford and the fifth round success at Wolves.

The Dutch Under-21 international made ten appearances for the Cherries in the first half of the season and received much praise for his performances, yet it doesn’t look like he’s going to get much a chance at Stamford Bridge this term.

Nonetheless, if he does indeed get a third start of the campaign for Chelsea on Monday, Ake will have to perform well to prove to Conte of his capabilities in the first team.

Michy Batshuayi

Another man who has seen first team opportunities hard to come by this season, striker Michy Batshuayi will likely get a sixth start of the campaign on Monday.

The Belgian international made a £33 million move to Stamford Bridge last summer and much was expected of him, but he has yet to make a Premier League start for the club, instead coming off the bench 16 times for the Blues this term.

However, when he has been given an opportunity in the domestic cup competitions, the 23-year-old has often netted, with four goals in five cup starts indicative of him taking his chance when presented to him.

It’s still not been enough to dispose Diego Costa of the regular starting berth, but if Batshuayi can perform against a top side like United on Monday, he may give Conte something to think about between now and May.