Malo Gusto was forced off with injury just 25 minutes into Chelsea's Conference League last-16 first leg away at Copenhagen.
Enzo Maresca started the Frenchman at left-back with captain Reece James in midfield and Trevoh Chalobah at right-back, but the Blues head coach was forced to make a change. After 15 minutes, the Frenchman received some treatment with physios captured wrapping strapping on his ankle.
Before the half hour mark, he blocked a powerful cross with that same foot which saw him react in pain and ask to be substituted. Marc Cucurella swiftly came on in his place with a new Chelsea defensive injury arriving just as Benoit Badiashile returned to action.
The former Monaco man and Chalobah were both included in the starting XI in Denmark on their return from injury with Wesley Fofana also close to returning, according to Maresca.
"They are both [Fofana and Badiashile] ready," he admitted in a press conference. "Trev was not something serious so he is OK. Benoit has been training in the past 10 days, probably even more. Wes is not in the squad but he is back. Romeo has started to train with us in the last two days.
"Slowly but surely we are getting players back and ready for the final bit of the season. We said already a few times, unfortunately our bad moment started with the amount of injuries but some of them are already back and in the process to be back. It is a huge boost for me and for the players."
The Blues head coach looks set for a big dilemma though, with James likely to be moved back to full-back if Gusto is deemed unavailable. However, the club have been carefully managing his load as of late which could result in Chalobah remaining there now that Badiashile is back and Fofana is close to returning himself.
Romeo Lavia being back available would certainly solve those problems but the Belgian will likely be eased back into the fold given the injury problems he has been faced with since joining the club.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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