Maresca update on three absent players makes start very clear for one of them | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca’s press conference today covered a number of topics, but the game against Bournemouth tomorrow was of course top of the agenda.

The manager had some interesting team news updates to follow last weekend’s FA Cup match against Morecambe.

Both Romeo Lavia and Reece James got their first start following injuries in that game, and made it through to a planned half time substitution without issue. Maresca’s answer about their availability tomorrow night made it clear that they could start, but no that they would start:

“Yes, we are very happy for both. They played 45 minutes and are available. They are available and since we started, we are trying to manage both because of their delicate situations,” Maresca explained.

While that two returned, one player who dropped out was Noni Madueke. We had assumed he was just rested but in the press conference after the game on Saturday Maresca explained that the winger had been ill.

The good news is that he’s back and ready for tomorrow:

“He is back. He is training with us and 100% fit.”

Maresca with real tester over injured pair’s potential starts

Reece James trains at Cobham. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

In Madueke’s case, it seems pretty clear that he’s going to start. Pedro Neto played in the cup, and Madueke is fresh and “100% fit”.

The other two are more mysterious. It will likely come down to their individual status on whether they get a start, and both are pretty close to a 50/50. We wouldn’t want to have to bet on it either way.

But given how cautious the club want to be with two players who have suffered terribly with injury, we reckon they’ll err on the side of caution and keep them both on the bench for the start of the game.