Enzo Maresca one step closer to dream Chelsea scenario after Caicedo update and big injury boost

Enzo Maresca could soon be facing a Chelsea decision he has not yet needed to make since being in charge. Ahead of a huge seven days, the Blues made it three consecutive victories this past weekend when they beat Leicester City courtesy of a long-range Marc Cucurella strike.

Wins against Copenhagen and Southampton arrived prior to that with two games now on the horizon before the March international break. The first of those is back at Stamford Bridge with Copenhagen as the visitors looking to overturn a 2-1 defeat from the first leg in the Conference League last-16.

This coming weekend, Chelsea remain in London as they make the short trip to Emirates Stadium for a league game against bitter rivals Arsenal. In the last four weeks, Maresca has been handed numerous injury problems but they have lessened as of late.

Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah have all returned in the last seven days while Romeo Lavia could soon be back as well. "Romeo has started to work with us," Maresca admitted earlier this month. "He’s still far from being 100%, but he’s started to work which us which is good."

The Belgium international being back in training at Cobham comes as a huge boost for Chelsea with the options in midfield to be bolstered. In his absence, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez have nailed down the two starting spots in the engine room with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall often filling in during Conference League games.

Against Aston Villa and Copenhagen, club captain Reece James was trialled in a central midfield role. In the latter, James was very impressive and he also scored during that clash in Denmark before seemingly being rested at the weekend.

Maresca later revealed it was due to illness and therefore it is very plausible he is back in midfield this coming Thursday. Due to the injury problems he has faced, it is unlikely James plays close to 90 minutes twice in the space of one week.

However, he can now provide adequate cover for Caicedo and Fernandez with Lavia hoping to do the same very soon. Resting Caicedo in particular will be key as he has played nearly 3,000 minutes of football this season and is also just one Premier League yellow card away from a two-match ban.

That caution not arriving against Leicester means he will be available to face Arsenal and Maresca will be hoping for the same outcome from that game so he can also feature against Tottenham. Beyond that, while the Blues would prefer to have him available, missing Brentford away and Ipswich at home for example, is not as bad.

If Caicedo is ultimately suspended, Maresca will be hoping his absence is tied in with Lavia's return as that would certainly soften the blow of his absence.

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