Raheem Sterling was included on Chelsea’s matchday programme… with the shirt number that was taken off him this week.
The Blues got the better Swiss side Servette in their Conference League play-off first leg clash on Thursday night amid chaotic scenes in the transfer market for them.
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Chelsea are looking to make big cuts to their already bloated playing squad before transfer deadline day on August 30, with Sterling being told he’s surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Aston Villa are potential suitors for Sterling and talkSPORT understands the Champions League club have been in touch with Chelsea over his availability.
However, no talks between Villa and Sterling have taken place at this stage.
It’s also understood that Sterling doesn’t want to move abroad.
After the names of Conor Gallagher, who has since completed his move to Atletico Madrid, Romelu Lukaku and Armando Broja were omitted from the programme ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Manchester City last weekend, Sterling could have suffered the same fate on Thursday.
He’s still on their books so remained on the back page of the programme which shows the full first-team playing squads, however, a glaring error related to Sterling has been noticed.
The 29-year-old has been labelled as Chelsea’s no.7 despite the fact he was stripped of the number, which was subsequently given to summer signing Pedro Neto.
Neto started the game, which Chelsea won 2-0, with former Barcelona youngster Marc Guiu and summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also getting the nod by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Meanwhile, talisman Cole Palmer and captain Enzo Fernandez were among those to have been named on the bench with both later coming on as Chelsea laboured to victory.
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The deadlock was broken five minutes into the second half through Christopher Nkunku’s penalty before Noni Madueke made it 2-0 ahead of the second leg in Switzerland next Thursday.
The match also saw youngster Marc Guiu miss an open goal.
The way Chelsea have handled Sterling has been met with some criticism, however, former Blues player Jason Cundy insists that’s the business of football.
After storming into the studio during Wednesday’s Kick Off show, talkSPORT host Cundy said: “I was listening out there, great show by the way, fascinating listen. But listening to you talk about the way the Raheem Sterling is being treated.
“Football shock… player treated badly to get out of club. Only ever club to do it. Let me tell you now, I’ve had it done to me on more than one occasion.
“Jamie O’Hara has had it done to him, it’s football. On a human level I feel for Raheem, I feel for Conor, and I feel for Trevoh Chalobah. On a human level.
“But this is football. These players are being paid hundreds of thousands of pounds a week and sometimes your face doesn’t fit.
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“It doesn’t make it right, but this is not breaking news.
“Man United in the way they treated Roy Keane when he went. It’s been going on for decades.
“What about when managers get sacked? Where is this outpouring of grief when managers get sacked? You never hear it.
“The way you two are going on, I was giggling thinking I’ve got to say something.”
A late surge last season saw Chelsea come sixth in the Premier League, however, they were forced to surrender their Europa League spot to Manchester United after the Red Devils beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
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