Chelsea handed triple injury boost ahead of Conference League knockout tie | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile would be available for Thursday's Conference League last-16 tie against FC Copenhagen, while Romeo Lavia is back in training.

The Blues have been beset by injuries in recent weeks. Maresca hasn't been able to name a recognised striker for more than a month after Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu pulled up with fitness complaints in the same game.

There have also been plenty of issues at the other end of the pitch. Centre-back Chalobah has been nursing a back problem while fellow defender Badiashile hasn't featured since December. However, Maresca confirmed that both would be part of the squad which travels to Denmark on Thursday night.

"Both ready," Maresca beamed. "Trev, fortunately not something serious. Ben is back, trained for last weeks and days."

There have been doubts over the fitness of Trevoh Chalobah / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Long-term absentee Wesley Fofana returned to the squad for Chelsea's victory over Southampton but won't be able to make his first appearance of the year as he wasn't included in the club's Conference League squad for the knockout stages. Maresca had positive news about Romeo Lavia who, like Fofana, is not part of the Conference League squad anyway.

"Wes is not in the squad but is also back," the Chelsea boss added. "Romeo started to train with us. Slowly we have players back, it's important for final rush of the season."

Maresca confirmed that Robert Sanchez would start ahead of Filip Jorgensen between the posts for Chelsea after being demoted for Premier League matches. Despite this shift, the Italian coach was at pains to stress that he values the importance of Europe's third-tier competition.

"From now on, all the Conference League and all the Premier League games are important, so we are going to take one by one until the end and try to win as many games as possible," Maresca insisted.