Chelsea handed major fitness boost for West Ham trip as key quartet return

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Evening Standard

·16 September 2024

Chelsea handed major fitness boost for West Ham trip as key quartet return

Enzo Maresca will see his selection options considerably bolstered for London derby clash

Chelsea have received a quadruple fitness boost, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Enzo Fernandez, Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia all returning to training.

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The Blues were heavily depleted both in midfield and at full-back for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the visitors thanks to substitute Christopher Nkunku’s late goal, assisted by new signing Jadon Sancho.

Gusto picked up a thigh problem in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace just before the international break and was forced to pull out of the France Under-21 squad.

In his absence - and with captain Reece James still sidelined with a hamstring injury - manager Enzo Maresca picked Axel Disasi out of position at right-back at the Vitality Stadium but the Frenchman endured a difficult evening and was eventually taken off midway through the second half.

Fitness boost: Enzo Fernandez is back in Chelsea training ahead of the London derby against West Ham

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In midfield, meanwhile, both Dewsbury-Hall and Fernandez missed out against Bournemouth through illness, while Lavia has not featured since the 6-2 win at Wolves last month because of a hamstring problem.

Summer signing Renato Veiga was handed a first Premier League start against the Cherries in midfield, but Maresca will now have options at his disposal when his team go to West Ham for a London derby on Saturday lunchtime.