Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca delivers Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia injury update ahead of EFL Cup opener
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Malo Gusto is available for Chelsea against Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday, September 24. However, Romeo Lavia is set to miss out again but could be back for the weekend.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Carabao Cup first match, Maresca said that Gusto was back from his injury. Reece James remains out for the Blues, along with Lavia. The Italian manager said (via Metro):
"Malo [Gusto] is available for tomorrow. Romeo [Lavia] is not available. Hopefully he can be available for the Brighton [& Hove Albion] game."
Chelsea are playing in the third round of the Carabao Cup directly this season, while Barrow are playing their third game. The League Two side defeated Port Vale in the first round before knocking out Derby County.
Chelsea set to give fringe players a chance against Barrow, confirms Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Chelsea will be rotating heavily this week against Barrow. He claims that the Blues will be keen on giving players who are not regulars in the first team a chance to prove themselves in the cup matches. He said:
"It will be a chance to give them some minutes in the same way as we have done in the Europa Conference League, we try to share minutes with them. Hopefully it can be a good chance for them to show a little bit themselves and also continue to get minutes."
He added:
"It's important but not because we think that we're going to win this competition. It's important because it's an official game. It's a different competition but it's an official game. We're going to try in the way we always try, prepare in the best way and try to win."
When quizzed if Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was set for his first start at Chelsea, the manager added:
"Probably. We have a session this afternoon and I like to tell the players before. We need to understand Kiernan was the main player at Leicester and he is not now. For him, you need to adapt, mentally you need to adapt. That period requires time to understand that and adapt. I am completely happy with Kiernan, the way he is doing."
Chelsea signed Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City this summer. The midfielder has been injured in most games and missed out on the Bournemouth clash last week following illness.