Enzo Maresca confirms major double boost to easy Chelsea injury fears: 'He's close' | OneFootball

Chelsea set to have first-team duo back in near future

Positive news: Enzo Maresca confirmed Malo Gusto could make a swift return

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In the immediate aftermath, Maresca said the issue was “not a good one”, raising concerns that the full-back could miss a crucial part of the run-in.

However, speaking on Friday, the Blues boss confirmed that while Gusto will miss tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off against Everton, he could return in time to face Djurgardens in the semi-final of the Conference League in midweek.

“Malo is injured but it doesn’t look like an important injury,” Maresca said. “He’s already running and doing things outside but he won’t be available tomorrow. Hopefully, he can be available for the next one.”

Malo Gusto’s injury is not believed to be a serious one

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Guiu, meanwhile, has been sidelined since suffering an abductor injury in the win over West Ham on transfer deadline day at the start of February.

Nicolas Jackson was injured in the same game, leaving Maresca with a striker shortage during his side’s spring slump in form.

While Jackson has since returned he is without a goal since mid-December and the return of teenager Guiu - who finished the Conference League group stage as the competition’s leading scorer - would give Maresca another option in the final month of the campaign, as well as the summer’s Club World Cup.

“He’s close,” Maresca added. “Hopefully, he can be one week or two weeks and he can be with us for the last part of the season.”

Christopher Nkunku is set to return to the match day squad for the visit of the Toffees, having been surprisingly axed for the trip to Craven Cottage last weekend.

Maresca described that as a “technical decision” and again defended the call on Friday, insisting picking the Frenchman would have meant sacrificing another attacker from his bench - despite naming four defenders among his substitutes.

“He’s in the squad and he has been good,” Maresca said. “Also, last week when he was out.

“But because we need to decide one or two players out and also to give some of the young players, like Ty [Tyrique George], Josh [Acheampong], the chance to continue to be with us. So it was just for that. But now he’s back on the squad.

“He’s training well. Probably [against Fulham], if he’s in the squad, one offensive player has to be out. That’s probably Tyrique. But now Malo is out, so we can bring another one and Christo will be with us.”