Chelseavs.Copenhagen

The Blues head into the second leg of their Conference League last-16 tie with the Danish outfit holding a 2-1 advantage from the opening game.

On Sunday, Chelsea backed up that result with an hard-earned 1-0 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League, but doubts emerged regarding the fitness of several players.

Most notably, Cole Palmer was withdrawn in the second half with Maresca revealing that the playmaker had been ill in the days leading up to the game.

Reece James also missed the contest with a similar problem, while Malo Gusto was absent with the ankle injury that he sustained in the previous encounter.

Which Chelsea are available?

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Maresca suggested that James and Palmer, as well as Christopher Nkunku, had suffered from the same stomach issue but had put themselves back into contention.

The Italian told reporters: "Cole, Reece and Christo, today has been first session. Yesterday, they were not here, and two days ago we had rest.

"The reason why is because they had some problems, but today they were all back and they are all better.

He added: "Today they trained with us and took part in the session, we see tomorrow if we are going to use some of them."

While there was no mention of Gusto's status, the right-back was not seen in training on Wednesday.

Who could start?

With Chelsea having recently welcomed players back to fitness, there is a chance that the trio may start this fixture on the substitutes' bench.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyrique George are both options to return in the number-10 role and on the flank respectively if Maresca does not want to push Palmer and Nkunku.

Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez may start in central midfield after each of them only played 45 minutes of the first leg, allowing James to start among the replacements.

Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia represent fresh options at right-back and in the engine room for Sunday's Premier League fixture at Arsenal due to being ineligible for this contest.

Written by

Darren Plant