Whereas Mauricio Pochettino’s first months in cost have been met with jeers and doubt, Enzo Maresca’s begin as Chelsea supervisor has been quietly good.
Having batted away questions concerning the bloated squad over the summer time earlier than dropping his first Premier League fixture, the Italian has led the Blues to 6 wins from their final eight video games, serving to them sit in promising positions within the Premier League and Convention League tables.
Maresca can be beginning to reap the rewards of a comparatively clear harm record. The west Londoners have been beset by health worries throughout 2023/24 however most of their key stars are at present wholesome as they put together for the go to of Newcastle United on Sunday.
Forward of that assembly at Stamford Bridge, listed here are the most recent harm updates for the Chelsea squad.
Reece James has struggled to be persistently out there for Chelsea lately, being struck down by harm after harm.
Nevertheless, issues at the moment are wanting up for the England worldwide. He returned in the slender 2-1 defeat to Liverpool final week and is anticipated to get one other begin on Sunday when Newcastle go to the capital.
Maresca has already admitted he’ll take no possibilities with James’ return to the matchday squad, revealing he doesn’t plan to make use of the right-back greater than as soon as every week. It was Pedro Neto who performed in a wing-back position within the 4-1 win over Panathinaikos on Thursday evening.
Identical to James, Romeo Lavia returned from a hamstring blow within the defeat at Liverpool. His health has been blighted incessantly since becoming a member of Chelsea from Southampton however the younger Belgian has impressed when he has been out there.
The 20-year-old partnered Moises Caicedo successfully at Anfield and needs to be included within the beginning XI as soon as once more for the Newcastle conflict, with Enzo Fernandez getting minutes in Greece on Thursday.
Chelsea tried to engineer an exit for Ben Chilwell in the course of the summer time switch window, however no deal may very well be agreed and the previous Leicester Metropolis left-back has been sparingly utilized by Maresca consequently.
His solely sport time thus far this season got here in the 5-0 thrashing of Barrow within the Carabao Cup third spherical and, whereas he could nicely have been ignored once more in opposition to Panathinaikos, the 27-year-old was unavailable because of sickness.
Maresca stated: “Chilly is one in all our gamers. He was in poor health [this week], so he did not get any periods. We’ll see how he’s at the moment and tomorrow.”
Marc Cucurella seems to have nailed down the left-back spot and might be out there once more within the Premier League this weekend after lacking a sport because of suspension.
Omari Kellyman is an thrilling expertise Chelsea signed in the course of the summer time from Aston Villa for a payment of round £19m. The 19-year-old attacker may be very a lot one for the long run however his solely minutes for his new membership have come for his or her youth sides.
The England Below-19 star, who made his Premier League and European debuts final season, is fighting a hamstring grievance however hopes to be out there subsequent month.
