Chelsea injury news: Maresca on trio’s fitness, Gusto injury and Jackson comeback | OneFootball

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku and Reece James might not play in his side’s Conference League clash with Copenhagen.

All three took part in training the day before the game but were absent earlier this week, Maresca revealed.

The Blues take a 2-1 lead back to Stamford Bridge following their first-leg round of 16 victory, but could be without the trio along with Malo Gusto, who has been ruled out.

“Cole, Reece [James] and Christo [Nkunku], today has been the first session,” he said.

“Yesterday they were not here and two days ago they had a rest. The reason why is because all of them had some problems but today, they were all back and they were all better.

“Today they trained with us and we will see tomorrow if we are going to use some of them.

“The only one that is still injured is Malo Gusto, the only new one.”

Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu remain sidelined through injury but Maresca says he is hoping to have them back after the international break.

“Noni [Madueke], Nicolas [Jackson] and Marc Guiu are still out, but the rest they can play,” he said.

“Jackson could be back probably after the international break. Him and Noni also.

“This is good news. Before the international break, we have two games tomorrow and Sunday and then we have international break, we can recover energy, recover players and then go for the last [bit of the season].”

Maresca also says Romeo Lavia’a fitness has improved, though the midfielder cannot play against Copenhagen after being left out of the Conference League squad.

“He’s much better, Romeo is much better,” he said.

“He’s not in the Conference League squad unfortunately. For him, he’s more or less similar to Reece James in terms of the main target for us is to help him to be fit until the end and play as many games as he can.”