Romeo Lavia return highlights Chelsea transfer danger as Enzo Maresca makes significant Josh Acheampong call | OneFootball

The Blues ended a four-game winless run in style

Chelsea overcame a sticky first-half to hammer Morecambe 5-0 in Saturday’s FA Cup tie, fired into the Fourth Round by long-range braces from Joao Felix and, bizarrely, Tosin Adarabioyo.

Tosin’s deflected strike, however, broke the game open and Chelsea eventually strolled clear. Nkunku’s finish and a Tosin pearler that, this time, found the net all on its own killed the tie, before Felix served a reminder of his class with two precise efforts.

Here are three takeaways….

Lavia role highlights Chelsea transfer danger

Aside from their eventually smooth progress, the best news of the afternoon from a Chelsea perspective was delivered with the team sheet, which included both Reece James and Romeo Lavia after their respective hamstring injuries.

Each were given 45 minutes before being withdrawn in pre-planned changes at the break and while Maresca has vowed to be cautious with their comebacks, the return of both players adds quality depth at a time when a number of his squad players are struggling for form.

Lavia’s deployment as a one-man midfield after five games out did, however, highlight the potential danger of Chelsea’s transfer policy in that position this month.

Boost: Romeo Lavia got 45 minutes under his belt on his return from injury.

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Both Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka were left out of the squad ahead of likely exits, while a departure for the injured Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has not been entirely ruled out, despite Maresca saying on Friday that the former Leicester man wants to fight for his place.

Thought Dewsbury-Hall has failed to make an impact in six months in west London so far, you feel that would be best for all parties, lest Maresca risk leaving himself light; should he join Casadei and Chukwuemeka in departing, the injury-prone Lavia would be the only specialist option beyond Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.

Given Chelsea have four competitions to contest across what could yet be another six months of this season, that would not be enough.

Nkunku struggles

It has not been a good few weeks for Nkunku, whose case for usurping Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea’s first-choice No9 has never felt flimsier, despite Jackson himself being in the midst of the leanest run of his campaign.

Given opportunity to lead the line away at Ipswich between Christmas and New Year, the Frenchman was utterly ineffective, outshone by opposite number Liam Delap, and eventually withdrawn with 25 minutes to play and Chelsea chasing the game.

Back on the bench away to Crystal Palace, where Chelsea conceded a late equaliser, he was ignored entirely as Maresca turned instead to teenager Marc Guiu as first change.

Nkunku’s penalty here - for all goalkeeper Burgoyne was almost stood next to him by the time he took it - was a dreadful effort, the complacent attempt of a player whose focus looks to have waned.

Christopher Nkunku had an mixed afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

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It may be no coincidence that the transfer window is open, with reports earlier in the campaign suggesting Nkunku is frustrated by his role and considering options elsewhere.

A sharp second-half finish on the rebound redeemed what, until then, had been another flat performance and takes Nkunku back level with Cole Palmer as Chelsea’s leading scorer across competitions, on 13 goals.

The Blues do not want to lose him this month and have no plans to bring in another striker, either. Still, on current trajectory, you suspect both stances will change in the summer.

Acheampong call

There were mixed messages from Maresca on Friday when asked whether youngster Josh Acheampong could become the permanent solution to his injury problems at centre-back.

The teenager’s performance on full Premier League debut at Crystal Palace last week, Maresca said, proved he is “ready”, but the Italian also suggested that “to rely on 18-year-old players for all the season probably is not the correct thing”.

Josh Acheampong was an unused substitute for Chelsea.

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That Acheampong was not included in the starting lineup here, though, felt significant, an indicator of his sudden rise as he sat alongside the likes of Jackson, Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill on a stacked Chelsea bench.

Despite Tosin’s scoring exploits, the Cobham graduate looks favourite to start here against Bournemouth on Tuesday.