---
title: "Armando Broja in line for first Chelsea start this weekend"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2022/09/29/chelsea-broja-to-start-against-crystal-palace-team-news-potter/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Niall Keenan"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2022-09-29T12:40:00Z"
modified: "2022-09-29T12:40:00Z"
---

# Armando Broja in line for first Chelsea start this weekend

**Armando Broja is expected to start as Chelsea return to Premier League action this weekend, according to journalist Simon Phillips.**

The 21-year-old youngster returned to Stamford Bridge following a productive loan spell at Southampton, where he scored [nine goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/armando-broja/leistungsdaten/spieler/571743/plus/0?saison=2021) across all competitions. The Albania international has made [six substitute appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/armando-broja/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/571743/plus/0?saison=2022&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) this term for the Blues but is still awaiting [his first start](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/armando-broja/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/571743/verein/631) for the club.

However, [The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19840408/chelsea-starting-armando-broja-graham-potter/)‘s Alan Nixon reported that the imposing forward has beeen grabbing the attention of his new boss Graham Potter, and it now seems likely that he will be rewarded with a spot in the starting line-up against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

**Broja in line to start v Palace**

Speaking about the probability of the Albanian starting at Selhurst Park this weekend, Phillips told [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88064769-chelsea-22-5m-star-finally-expected-to-start-vs-crystal-palace): “He’s very close, I’m surprised he hasn’t had it yet, but he had a small injury, so I think that held him up a bit.

“I’ve been told that he is expected to get the nod in the next game if all things go well between now and then and I think it’ll probably be ahead of Aubameyang, who still has a broken jaw issue, so I think Broja will start against Crystal Palace.”

**About time**

Despite having only [69 top-flight minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/armando-broja/leistungsdaten/spieler/571743) available to him at Chelsea this season, the 6 foot 3 “[machine](https://twitter.com/SimonPeach/status/1492497984860430338)” – as author Simon Peach described him – has made an impression.

As per [FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/squads/cff3d9bb/Chelsea-Stats#all_stats_shooting), he ranks first for shots on target per game (3.7), far ahead of Kai Havertz in second place with 0.84, with 100% of his attempts being on target. The [15-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/armando-broja/nationalmannschaft/spieler/571743/verein_id/3561) Albanian is also ahead of his Stamford Bridge colleagues in terms of predicted goals per 90 minutes (0.45), narrowly edging [top scorer](https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/stats/_/id/363/scoring) Raheem Sterling in this regard.

Journalist Tom Barclay praised Broja for his “[clinical](https://twitter.com/TomBarclay_/status/1449403916412723211)” ability in front of goal, and it is reassuring to hear that Potter seems willing to finally give him a start for Chelsea this weekend.

Based on the output from his sporadic substitute appearances of late, it’s about time that the 21-year-old is thrown in from the start.