Enzo Maresca has provided updates on a number of injuries in his Chelsea squad including the one suffered by Noni Madueke against Brighton. The 22-year-old was forced off with a hamstring issue just 21 minutes into the Premier League game on the south coast which the Blues went on to lose 3-0.
The big injuries had mostly been arriving in defence with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile having both missed the last few months. Romeo Lavia has also been plagued by issues this season and is currently out, while Malo Gusto and Reece James have also been unavailable for periods.
However, the problems are now further forward with Madueke becoming the third attacker Maresca has lost to injury this month after Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu both picked up muscular issues during the 2-1 win against West Ham. The absence of a natural No.9 has been clear in both defeats to Brighton.
Despite it not working thus far, a front four of Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto being deployed now looks likely over the coming weeks after Maresca provided an update on Madueke and the rest of his squad.
“Fortunately, we don’t have any additional injuries,” he said in a press conference. “Noni will probably be out until the international break. The rest: Nico [Jackson] out, Wesley [Fofana] out, Benoit [Badiashile] out, Romeo [Lavia] out, Marc Guiu out.
“Probably after the international break we can have most of the injuries back, hopefully all of them. For us, this can be a big boost.” That statement coming true would mean Chelsea have to navigate games at home to Leicester and Southampton before a trip to Arsenal along with this weekend’s clash away to Aston Villa.
Regardless of those injury issues, the Blues will be clear favourites for both fixtures at Stamford Bridge while they could also pick up a needed win at Villa Park especially as Unai Emery’s side are likely to be fatigued from facing Liverpool just three days prior.
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