Enzo Maresca has been putting his players through their paces in training ahead of Chelsea's clash against Shamrock Rovers. The Blues will lock horns with the Irish outfit at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night for the final match of the UEFA Conference League 'league phase'.

Chelsea have won each of their five games in the competition, they sit at the top of the table, and they're the only team to have already booked a place in the round of 16. As for Shamrock Rovers, they're sixth and they're guaranteed to – at the very least – qualify for a knockout play-off place.

When the Blues jetted off to Kazakhstan to face Astana last week, Maresca gave four youngsters – Ato Ampah, Shumaira Mheuka, Kiano Dyer and Samuel Rak-Sakyi – their senior debuts. The Chelsea boss also handed Josh Acheampong his maiden start and Tyrique George more minutes.

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While Maresca's expected to field another young team, some big names have returned to action. So, with that being said, football.london has spotted five things in training that you might have missed as Chelsea geared up to face Shamrock Rovers.

Chelsea youngsters heavily involved again

As briefly aforementioned, Maresca looks set to field another youthful starting line-up in the Conference League. Acheampong, George, Dyer, Rak-Sakyi, Mheuka and Harrison Murray-Campbell featured in first-team training on Wednesday afternoon, indicating that they could be involved on Thursday evening.

Nkunku and Felix return to action

Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix were spotted back in action at Cobham. The duo were absent from Chelsea's 7000-mile trip last week, sparking speculation about their fitness.

The former was named in the Blues' matchday squad that faced Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday, while the latter remained absent. Felix has since returned and looked well.

Maresca drops starting lineup hint

Maresca hinted at what his starting line-up could look like on Thursday night. During training, the Chelsea boss worked with a small group of 15 players, which included a mix of seasoned internationals and Cobham prospects.

At the back, there was Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Acheampong and Murray-Campbell. In midfield, there was Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Dyer and Rak-Sakyi. As for the forwards, Maresca worked with Marc Guiu, Nkunku, Felix, George and Mheuka.

Chelsea hero makes emotional return

Thiago Silva made an emotional return to Cobham training ground this week. The former Chelsea defender, who recently rescued his boyhood club Fluminense from relegation to the second tier of Brazilian football, reunited with the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke.

£17m striker nowhere to be seen...

Devid Washington was nowhere to be seen in first-team training, raising questions about his future at the club. The 19-year-old striker, who joined Chelsea from Santos in August 2023 for around £17m, has featured just three times for the club, with all of which coming last season.

That said, the Blues' hands have been tied in the Conference League. Chelsea are permitted to register players on what's called the 'B list' at late notice, but there's a catch.

Only those who were born after 1st January 1 2003 and have been at the club for at least two years are eligible to be added. Washington, who doesn't meet the requirements, cannot be registered unfortunately – unlike Harvey Vale last week.