Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Reece James and Malo Gusto will play no part in Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth due to injury, but Romeo Lavia could be involved in the Premier League clash.
It has been a difficult start to the campaign at Stamford Bridge, with Maresca opening his reign as Chelsea manager with just one win from three in the English top flight.
Bournemouth sit eighth, one point and three places above Chelsea in the table after three matches, and Andoni Iraola’s men will be determined to consign their visitors to yet more disappointment on Saturday afternoon.
Maresca has faced a number of injury concerns after taking over the reins in west London in the summer and has been without club captain James, who remains sidelined with a thigh problem.
Gusto filled in for James at right-back for much of last season and has started all three of the club’s opening games this term against Manchester City, Wolves and Crystal Palace.
But the Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the second half of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Palace and had to withdraw from France’s Under-21 squad during the international break.
‘Malo is still out, he is not available for tomorrow’s game,’ Maresca told reporters when asked for an update on Gusto’s injury at his pre-match press conference this afternoon.
It has been another frustrating start to the season for Romeo Lavia, with the Belgian missing Chelsea’s last two league matches versus Wolves and Palace with a hamstring injury.
But the defensive midfielder stepped up his recovery during the international break and could be set to feature at the Vitality Stadium this weekend.
‘Romeo Lavia is very close, hopefully he is back for the next game,’ Maresca added.
‘Unfortunately, Reece James needs more time.’
Maresca will find the ‘right moment’ to give Jadon Sancho his Chelsea debut following the winger’s move from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
‘I decide the first XI, it depends on the training session,’ the Italian explained.
‘Jadon is one of our wingers. I am seeing him exactly the way I was expecting him.
‘Now it’s a matter to find the right moment for him, to give him a chance.’
According to Maresca, Chelsea will need to be near-perfect from both a technical and physical perspective to compete with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool over the coming seasons.
‘Today, if you want to compete, you need to find the right balance between the technical side and the physical side,’ he continued.
‘City, Arsenal and Liverpool have those players that are physically strong but we have that too.’
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