Chelsea could be overpowered by the Tottenham midfield, says Graeme Le Saux ahead of Wembley clash

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Chelsea are looking 'light' in midfield and risk being overpowered by Tottenham when they meet at Wembley on Sunday, according to Graeme Le Saux.

The Premier League champions count N'Golo Kante as their only fully-fit and available senior midfielder with Cesc Fabregas suspended, Tiemoue Bakayoko returning from injury and having sold Nemanja Matic.

And former Blues left-back Le Saux says Kante will be pushed to his limits by the power of Spurs in the middle of the park as Chelsea try to avoid their nightmare start to the season dragging on.

Graeme Le Saux believes Chelsea will have their work cut-out against Tottenham 

David Luiz or Andreas Christensen are expected to move into midfield to cover.

Meanwhile, Moussa Dembele and Eric Dier started at Newcastle United for Spurs last week and they can also count on Victor Wanyama.

Le Saux never tasted defeat in this derby across two spells at Stamford Bridge but accepts the rivalry has a very different look now.

'It can be a big advantage for Spurs,' he told Sportsmail of the contrast in the two teams' midfield options. 'A three-man midfield for Spurs of Dier, Wanyama and Dembele - you're in business there, or two of those three.

'They will be against Kante plus one other. Midfield is the key area of the pitch because Chelsea, last season they dominated in midfield with the combination of Matic and Kante and then Fabregas, they had him if they needed him - but now they look light.

Le Saux believes N'Golo Kante will have a key role to play in shackling Tottenham's midfield

'Kante's going to have to think about Dele Alli as well because he drops into that hole behind... so he's going to earn his salary this weekend.'

Chelsea and Spurs have always been fierce rivals and the years since Le Saux left the Blues in 2003 have been no different.

Back then, he admits to 'throwing things at the television' when he was rested by Claudio Ranieri for a Worthington Cup semi-final second leg that Chelsea lost at White Hart Lane.

More recently, the Battle of Stamford Bridge less than 18 months ago remains fresh in the memory and Le Saux says that night may have helped Spurs become the team they are now.

Mauricio Pochettino's side lost their heads and picked up a record-breaking nine yellow cards as their title hopes fell to pieces - but Le Saux believes the experience will have built bonds in the long-term.

Le Saux thinks Chelsea's midfield 'looks light' compared to their Tottenham counterparts

'They're a young side and they're all growing together,' he said. 'That was probably the biggest learning opportunity for them, that game against Chelsea when they lost their cool, lost control, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

'It hurt them so much and they were able to control their emotions, as long as that happens in isolation that's not a bad thing.’ 

Graeme Le Saux was speaking on behalf of TAG Heuer to promote the TAG Heuer Premier League Pressure Test. TAG Heuer is the Official Timekeeping Partner of the Premier League.