Enzo Maresca has provided an update on the fitness of Romeo Lavia and Reece James ahead of Chelsea’s Club World Cup semi-final clash against Fluminense.
Chelsea face the Brazilian giants on Tuesday night in Latest Jersey, with the winner set to tackle either Real Madrid or PSG in the ultimate.
The road to the last-four hasn’t been easy for the Blues, not least after suffering several injury blows within the build-up to their last match against Palmeiras.
Lavia was ruled out due to a small muscle injury, while captain James was named within the starting XI but pulled out before kick-off after he ‘felt something in the course of the warm-up’.
Maresca shared an update on the midfielder in his pre-match press conference on Monday, saying: ‘I feel within the last game we had Romeo out, Moises Caicedo out, Reece out, and we found an answer with Andrey Santos playing in midfield.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea each day
Get up to seek out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Join to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we are able to get football news tailored to you.
‘Romeo is training already. Unfortunately, though, he is just not training with the team, so he is just not ready for tomorrow.’
While the top coach didn’t mention James, the full-back was pictured in team training and had previously posted on Instagram: ‘I’m fit and well, see you on Tuesday,’ implying he is prepared to begin.
But Maresca also has some suspensions to cope with, as Liam Delap and Levi Colwill picked up their second yellow cards of the tournament against Palmeiras, meaning they will’t play Fluminense.
Maresca’s comments suggest that recent signing Joao Pedro will replace Delap within the striker position, fuelling further speculation that Nicolas Jackson’s future within the team is bleak.
However the Italian insists Jackson stays a willing and necessary member of his side despite his recent disciplinary issues, adding: ‘Now with Levi and Liam out, we’ll find different solutions.
‘Joao Pedro is prepared, and we even have Nico. Needless to say, we’ll find an answer.’
‘I feel Joao can play in all of the attacking positions for us. The difference is with Nico, I see him as only a No.9 but I see Joao in several positions.
‘Nico is training well. In almost the last two games he played, he was sent off.
‘He’s working well. He played the Conference League final and scored. At this moment, he’s okay.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Micah Richards ‘scratching his head’ over £50m Arsenal transfer decision
MORE: AC Milan boss Max Allegri speaks out on way forward for Chelsea goal Mike Maignan
MORE: Chelsea set asking price for Man Utd to sign Christopher Nkunku