Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has provided the latest injury updates on his squad ahead of their UEFA Champions League matchday three clash with Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday.
The Blues have suffered several injury setbacks this season, as multiple key players continue to miss action due to various fitness issues.
Vice-captain Enzo Fernandez missed last weekend’s 3-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest, but could make a return to the team for the visit of the Dutch side.
According to Enzo Maresca, the Argentine midfielder has trained with the team, but will not be rushed back into the squad to avoid further complications.
“Enzo took part in the session yesterday, we have one more session and we will see what we do tomorrow. It’s not something to be worried about but we just have to protect Enzo”, Maresca said.
The Chelsea gaffer also revealed that English striker Liam Delap is close to a return to full training, after missing several weeks due to injury.
The summer arrival from Ipswich Town suffered a hamstring injury in an English Premier League game against Fulham in August and has not returned to action since then.
“Liam is very close. He is not working with us yet. He is still out. Hopefully he can start in the next days to start taking sessions with us.”
The Blues will be without the services of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro, who was sent off in the 1-0 win over Benfica in their last European game.
Maresca remains optimistic that his other attacking options will step up in the absence of the key forward, particularly Marc Guiu, who impressed during his brief appearance off the bench last weekend.
“We have him [Marc Guiu] we have also Tyrique [George]. He played games as a nine in the past. He did well. He played I think against Benfica as a nine so we have different options. We will see. We have one more session this afternoon and then we decide”, the Chelsea boss continued.
“We trust Marc [Guiu]. We trust him last year, he was playing in the Conference League. We gave him some Premier League games. We show in the past that we trust Marc. Now he is again with us and he’s going to play games, for sure.”
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