Whereas Mauricio Pochettino's first months in charge were met with jeers and doubt, Enzo Maresca's start as Chelsea manager has been quietly brilliant.
Having batted away questions about the bloated squad over the summer before losing his first Premier League fixture, the Italian has led the Blues to six wins from their last eight games, helping them sit in promising positions in the Premier League and Conference League tables.
Maresca is also starting to reap the rewards of a relatively clean injury list. The west Londoners were beset by fitness worries during 2023/24 but most of their key stars are currently healthy as they prepare for the visit of Newcastle United on Sunday.
Ahead of that meeting at Stamford Bridge, here are the latest injury updates for the Chelsea squad.
Reece James
- Injury: Hamstring
- Potential return date: Newcastle (H) - 27/10/24
Reece James has struggled to be consistently available for Chelsea in recent years, being struck down by injury after injury.
However, things are now looking up for the England international. He returned in the slender 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last week and is expected to get another start on Sunday when Newcastle visit the capital.
Maresca has already admitted he will take no chances with James' return to the matchday squad, revealing he does not plan to use the right-back more than once a week. It was Pedro Neto who played in a wing-back role in the 4-1 win over Panathinaikos on Thursday night.
Romeo Lavia
- Injury: Hamstring
- Potential return date: Newcastle (H) - 27/10/24
Just like James, Romeo Lavia returned from a hamstring blow in the defeat at Liverpool. His fitness has been blighted frequently since joining Chelsea from Southampton but the young Belgian has impressed when he has been available.
The 20-year-old partnered Moises Caicedo effectively at Anfield and should be included in the starting XI once again for the Newcastle clash, with Enzo Fernandez getting minutes in Greece on Thursday.
Ben Chilwell
- Injury: Illness
- Potential return date: Newcastle (H) - 27/10/24
Chelsea attempted to engineer an exit for Ben Chilwell during the summer transfer window, but no deal could be agreed and the former Leicester City left-back has been sparingly used by Maresca as a result.
His only game time so far this season came in the 5-0 thrashing of Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round and, while he may well have been ignored again against Panathinaikos, the 27-year-old was unavailable due to illness.
Maresca said: "Chilly is one of our players. He was ill [this week], so he didn't get any sessions. We will see how he is today and tomorrow."
Marc Cucurella looks to have nailed down the left-back spot and will be available again in the Premier League this weekend after missing a game due to suspension.
Omari Kellyman
- Injury: Hamstring
- Potential return date: November
Omari Kellyman is an exciting talent Chelsea signed during the summer from Aston Villa for a fee of around �19m. The 19-year-old attacker is very much one for the future but his only minutes for his new club have come for their youth sides.
The England Under-19 star, who made his Premier League and European debuts last season, is struggling with a hamstring complaint but hopes to be available next month.
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