Mauricio Pochettino has been told he must not play Mykhailo Mudryk when Chelsea take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round this Friday.

Chelsea turned on the style to qualify for the final of the Carabao Cup in February, with an emphatic 6-1 second-leg win against Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer scored twice for the Blues, while Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, and Noni Madueke also found the net in the Tuesday night victory.

Madueke was a second half substitute, who came on for Mudryk after the Ukrainian was hooked off at half-time.

Pochettino did explain in a post-match interview that the substitution was born out of caution after Mudryk received a booking in the first period, but former Chelsea pair, Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley have now insisted that the 24-year-old should have no part in the upcoming FA Cup clash with Villa.

“I agree with Craig (Burley),” Leboeuf said, as he reacted to his former Chelsea teammate’s assessment of Mudryk.

“Mudryk should go. But I will be more keen to be stronger in the midfield zone. I would put Gallagher instead of Madueke and maybe try to be strong defensively and play on transition and try to counter-attack with Palmer, Sterling and to finish hopefully Broja.

“That’s the only option that you have. Madueke is a good player, but plays with instinct instead of thinking a little bit more about the game like Mudryk does.

“They are talented players for the future with good skills but right now they are far away from what we expect for them.

“Gallagher will make the midfield zone stronger so it’s why I’d go with that option. But it’s going to be a different game against Villa.”

Burley added: “Mudryk, he makes too many bad decisions to be in this Chelsea side at this moment in time. Whether it’s with or without the ball, his decision making is poor.”