Enzo Maresca will want to avenge a 2-1 loss to **Fulham**in the derby on Boxing Day last year, but he will be without the services of his talismanic ten. Some other options are still struggling with fitness, and the manager mentioned why he is "always worried" about their type of physical situations.
‘It’s a player we really trust’
The big absentee will be Cole Palmer. He pulled out of action last Friday evening due to a niggle in the warm-up, and his lack of availability forces the manager to adapt his plans for this local derby.
He threw **Estevao**into the starting eleven and used Joao Pedro in the hole as a second striker off Liam Delap. With so many options to pick from tomorrow, he will be juggling ideas in his head.
“For sure, we are a much better team with Cole. But when he is not in the game, we need different solutions. Last week we found different solutions and hopefully we again find different solutions.”
Palmer will also be absent from **England**duty next month in the World Cup qualifiers. Maresca has discussed the matter with former **Chelsea**boss Thomas Tuchel and will evaluate him over time.
“Cole is out. We need to see day by day, and the other two I don’t think are going to be back after the international break. But they are going to be closer. I spoke with Thomas a few times, but in the end it’s Thomas’ decision and he decided that. He is not available tomorrow. It shows he has a problem.”
Injury layoffs have unfortunately afflicted two of his teammates much more frequently. Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia remain on the sidelines, while Wesley Fofana nears full fitness.
“I'm always worried but I think with Romeo, Benoit because it's long time out. It's normal that they need time, they need session. It's the same that we are doing with Wes. Wes is back. The other day play some minutes. Hopefully we can give him more minutes and slowly get the right condition.”
Maresca mentioned Lavia's ropey record for availability, looking to keep him fit for the long term.
“Two years ago he didn't play any game. Last year he played some games. This season the target again is to give him more games and often the moment he's back he can be fit for a long time and play more minutes more games because it's a player that we really trust.”
‘Christo has been a fantastic professional’
The manager also mentioned where the squad stands in terms of outgoings and incomings right now.
“The window is open so anything can happen in and out. I joined the club one year ago saying that I was in love with the squad and the squad I think getting better and better. So my feeling is the same.”
Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling have come back from loans to their place in the 'bomb squad.' The 45-year-old offered no insight about what would happen if the pair could not find a new home.
“No idea to be honest. I don't know. They are not even with us. They are training with different time with different pitch. I don't have any idea. I don't know. We see when the window transfer to close.”
Christopher Nkunku has been less brutally marginalised, but he has stayed as a second string option. In the eyes of the Italian, he would always struggle for minutes behind Palmer in the role of the attacking midfielder, but that does not mean **AC Milan**should not have hope about the arrival.
“Christo has been a fantastic professional with us. He was very professional, training well. The only problem with Christo has been that in his position there was also Cole. So it was difficult for him to get minutes but they can expect fantastic thing. He's professional and second he's a very good player.”
His focus is on the group that will face Fulham, and then comes the time to recuperate next week.
“Especially for the players will be a good time for us also for sure. But especially for the players, ones that don't go with international team uh that also they need to they need to recover holidays.”