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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne and Malik Ouzia

Enzo Maresca issues five-man Chelsea injury update with new blow confirmed

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca says Joao Felix and Romeo Lavia are in contention to be available for selection against Everton next weekend.

Both players missed the Blues’ 2-1 win over Brentford on Sunday night, with the latter not recovering from the knock that forced him off at half-time against Tottenham the week prior.

In their absences, Maresca was forced to name a youthful bench for the west London derby and it was rather telling that he made just one change with Christopher Nkunku replacing match-winner Nicolas Jackson in the closing stages.

Though, the good news for Chelsea is Felix and Lavia are in line to return for the trip to Goodison Park along with Pedro Neto after he served a one-match suspension as a result of accumulating five yellow cards in the Premier League.

However, Maresca has also confirmed a fresh injury blow to central defender Benoit Badiashile as well as losing Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell to illness.

“We had Joao Felix and Romeo Lavia can probably be available for the next one [against Everton],” he told reporters.

“Carney and Chilly were ill. Pedro was suspended. Reece and Wes have injuries and yesterday during the session Benoit felt something.

“Benoit had a problem yesterday during the session,” the Italian said of Badiashile before kick-off. “For now, we do not know how long he will be out for.

The have a dead-rubber in the Europa Conference League against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday before returning to Premier League action to face the Toffees.

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