Enzo Maresca has been handed a boost with Nicolas Jackson and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall set to play their first minutes of pre-season this week according to The Athletic.
The Blues are currently on their pre-season tour of America and drew their first game 2-2 against Wrexham before a heavy 4-1 defeat to Celtic in their second.
Chelsea have got another two games this week against Club America and Manchester City as preparations for the new season continue, and Maresca will be hoping to see an improvement in performance levels from the opening two games.
Jackson and Dewsbury-Hall set for first minutes
Maresca has used a number of players over the first two games, but he’s not yet been able to call on Jackson or new signing Dewsbury-Hall.
Jackson has been nursing an ankle injury he picked up earlier this summer in a World Cup Qualifier for Senegal, whilst Dewsbury-Hall picked up a problem towards the end of last season with Leicester.
However, The Athletic have provided a positive update on the duo and have reported the pair are in line to get their first minutes of the tour this week.
The report stated that Dewsbury-Hall, who arrived from Leicester for £30m is ahead of schedule as he looks to return to full fitness, and the 25-year-old could be part of the squad for the game against Club America.
The Athletic also add that the Blues have targeted the game against Real Madrid on August 6th as an opportunity for Jackson to get his first minutes, but the possibility of him being in the squad to face Manchester City hasn’t been ruled out.
This is positive news for the Blues, with Jackson, who scored 17 goals in all competitions last season set to lead the line for Chelsea next season, whilst Dewsbury-Hall could be set for a key role in the side having scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists as the Foxes won the Championship title last season under Maresca.
