Enzo Fernandez injury update given on Chelsea star ahead of Ajax Champions League clash
Enzo Fernandez missed Chelsea's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday – and now Enzo Maresca has provided an injury update ahead of the Champions League clash against Ajax
Enzo Maresca has confirmed a late decision will be made on whether Enzo Fernandez can feature for Chelsea against Ajax. Fernandez missed Saturday’s win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground after picking up a knee injury while on international duty with Argentina.
The Chelsea midfielder played 78 minutes in a 1-0 win over Venezuela before missing a 6-0 victory against Puerto Rico a few days later due to ''inflammation of the knee'. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, Maresca insisted he'll continue to protect the Argentine.
He said: "Enzo took part in the session yesterday. We have one more session this afternoon, and we will decide with him tomorrow. It is not something we have to be worried about. It's to try and protect Enzo."
But while Fernandez could make his return tomorrow night, Chelsea will definitely be without Benoit Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill and Liam Delap for the game.
And when asked about the injury crisis at Stamford Bridge, Maresca added: "It's difficult, especially because most of the injuries we had were one or two days before the game. We are trying to adapt.
READ MORE: Premier League clubs' fear over squad cap issue emerges ahead of historic voteREAD MORE: Chelsea news: Enzo Maresca's promise after talks as Blues make savvy transfer play"It's complicated because sometimes you plan for some players to play one week, but then you need that player because of another injury."
On Delap, Maresca revealed: "Liam is very close. He is not working with us yet. He is still out. Hopefully he can start in the next days to start taking sessions with us."
Chelsea will also be without the suspended Joao Pedro for the game, but Maresca said: "We have him [Marc Guiu] we have also Tyrique [George].
“He played games as a nine in the past. He did well. He played I think against Benfica as a nine so we have different options.
“We will see. We have one more session this afternoon and then we decide.
"We trust Marc [Guiu]. We trust him last year, he was playing in the Conference League. We gave him some Premier League games.
“We show in the past that we trust Marc. Now he is again with us and he's going to play games, for sure."
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