Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic was looking fresh and skillful in Blues training ahead of a potential surprise Everton inclusion.
Thomas Tuchel's side go into Sunday's encounter against Everton with third place nearly secured after the point picked up at Old Trafford in midweek. It was a draw between two English giants who both had key players out, Man United more so, therefore meaning it wasn't two full-strength teams on show in the battle of German managers.
Despite the disappointment felt in only the solitary point taken from a winning position on Thursday night, all attention seemingly was trying to build up some good form on the pitch ahead of the impending FA Cup final against Liverpool. Tuchel will be hoping for the likes of Kovacic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Andreas Christensen and even potentially Ben Chilwell to return to the fold in time for the May 14 grand showpiece.
READ MORE: Chelsea handed a huge injury boost ahead of Everton trip as trio return to training
Kovacic, despite Tuchel's initial fears suggesting he would not be involved at Goodison Park on Sunday, was surprisingly pictured back in training on Friday looking fresh and ready to gain his position back from one of N'Golo Kante or Jorginho in that rather ageing but experienced midfield. "For sure, Ben Chilwell, no, and for Kova (Mateo Kovacic), it is too early – he has not had a minute in team training so far. he will not come back," Tuchel said in his pre-match press conference to Everton.
Well, the 'minute in team training' has now changed but the Wolves and Leeds fixtures look a more realistic chance for Chelsea's number 8 to re-acclimatise to first-team football after he had sustained an ankle injury in the FA Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace a few weeks ago. However, if the latest training footage is anything to go by, then Tuchel himself could potentially take the leap of faith in including one of the contenders for Chelsea's player of the season award into the mix for a role at least from the bench against Frank Lampard's struggling Toffees.
This is because, during a mini-game in Cobham training, the former Real Madrid man picked up the ball from soon to be Barcelona defender Christensen before easing past the likes of Ross Barkley, Trevoh Chalobah and Hakim Ziyech and then slotting past Edouard Mendy. A dynamic move which could cause Everton problems on the weeks.
So Chelsea fans- should Thomas Tuchel take the risk and at least give Kovacic a role in the matchday squad even if it's from the bench this weekend? Let us know your thoughts below!
