Chelsea are in a pretty good situation injury wise, although a couple of unexpected problems weakened the Blues just before Saturday’s game.
Both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Enzo Fernandez had illnesses which prevented them featuring, joining Romeo Lavia in the treatment room and leaving a hole in midfield which matched the hole at right back caused by the absence of Malo Gusto and Reece James.
So what shape will we be in this weekend? The Evening Standard took a look at our issues and tried to figure it out.
They’ve summed up Maresca’s recent comments in a piece here, and their conclusion is pretty simple: 4 of the 5 will be back this weekend, and one shortly after.
Lavia Gusto, Fernandez and Dewsbury-Hall should all be ready. The James issue, unsurprisingly, is lingering. But once Gusto is back, that’s a lesser concern.
Prospects improving as Chelsea return to full strength
Getting through Saturday’s match without picking up any injuries and without dropping any points was the most important thing, and we managed that. Poor Moises Caicedo had to put in a real shift straight off the back of two starts for Ecuador in South America and we’re lucky he made it through unscathed. He will surely now be given a very easy week – and in an ideal world not used for much more than an hour against the Hammers.
That should bring some much needed balance back to the team – attacking threat down the right from Gusto, and much more solidity and ball control in midfield with Fernandez and Lavia likely able to split some minutes.
Let’s hope we can keep this impressive injury free situation going in this next phase of the season, with European and cup football really kicking into gear and several more international breaks to come.
Against west ham , this has a physical player’s plus good attacking players too . Chelsea FC should be focus on attacking prospects of west ham . Three man central midfield Chelsea FC needs . It would be good to see Felix/ NKunKu or Jackson on front then Palmer , veiga and caceido in the middle . Neto / madueke / mudryk in the wing . Then play Fofana at right back in put in Tosin in center back . Enzo Lavia hall Sancho in the bench . 4231 / 433 / 4321 . Good to see Jorgensen playing premier league .
Chelsea will win