Maresca will get a couple of boosts over the coming weeksplaceholder image
Maresca will get a couple of boosts over the coming weeks | Getty Images
Chelsea have been handed a fitness boost for their upcoming Premier League outings.
‘He is available,' the Blues head coach said. 'He has already played 60 minutes twice – last time maybe it was even a little bit more. So the progression is that he can play more minutes, whether that is for 70 or 90 minutes depends on the game.’
Chelsea are currently fourth, and while Newcastle are six points off their pace, they will see the Magpies as a direct threat in the top four race, making this game particularly important.
The Blues will not have a number of players through injury, but Maresca has provided some good news ahead of the upcoming games against Villa, Bournemouth and City.
“We probably have Liam Delap and Estevao Willian back for the game against Aston Villa [on 27 December), which is good newsm” he said. “But Romeo (Lavia) is still out, Dario Essugo is still out and Levi (Colwill) is still out.
‘‘With Liam, we said since he suffered the injury (shoulder) that we didn’t know exactly for how long he would be out, but he is progressing very well.”
Maresca has previously spoken about how vital it is to have Delap in his system, with the natural number nine offering plenty of structure, beyond his ability with the ball. Delap suffered a shoulder injury against Bournemouth recently, and there were fears that the issue could keep him out until some time in the new year, but it is not as bad as feared.
Elsewhere, Cole Palmer was rested against Cardiff, and Maresca says the England international is still building up his fitness amid an ongoing groin issue, and that he will play against Newcastle.
“He is available,” said the Chelsea boss. “He has already played 60 minutes twice – last time maybe it was even a little bit more. So the progression is that he can play more minutes, whether that is for 70 or 90 minutes depends on the game.”
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