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Enzo Maresca favourite finally set for Chelsea opportunity as plan outlined

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looks on course to start in Chelsea's FA Cup tie against Barrow
-Credit: (Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)


Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looks on course to be handed his opportunity in the Chelsea starting XI. Taking on League Two side Barrow in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, head coach Enzo Maresca will ring the changes for the cup tie at Stamford Bridge.

Not only is it a chance to give those on the periphery of the starting XI some much-needed minutes from the off, it is also a chance for the Blues' key players to have a breather ahead of Saturday afternoon's showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion in SW6. Chelsea fans have seen very little of Dewsbury-Hall in action since his summer transfer from Leicester City, where he was such an instrumental part of the side that Maresca guided back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Playing the full 90 minutes in each of Chelsea's two-legged Europa Conference League play-off tie against Servette, the former Leicester ace has been restricted to only 43 minutes of action in his first three Premier League appearances for the west London club. The last of those came on Saturday as he was introduced in the 84th minute of the 3-0 win away at West Ham.

So how has Dewsbury-Hall's start to life at Chelsea gone so far? That question was put to Maresca in his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon.

"I'm very happy with Kiernan. If we simply judge a team, or player because of the way they play or they win, but we also need to understand that Kiernan was the main player at Leicester. He has arrived here and he is not the main player. He is one of the players," explained the 44-year-old.

"For him, for any player in the world, you need to adapt because you were the main player here and now one of the players. That period requires time that you understand and adapt.

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"I'm completely happy with Kiernan, the way he is doing. For sure, when you go inside the final 10 minutes, five minutes; it's not easy for Kiernan or the rest of the players so you need to understand a little bit that situation from the other one when you were the main player. It is just a matter to adapt a little bit but I don't have any doubts for Kiernan."

Dewsbury-Hall's target will indeed to become one of Chelsea's main players but to do so he first of all requires those regular minutes in the side. Key to that happening is the player taking the opportunities that come his way and giving Maresca no option but to start him in his side.

That is easier said than done, though, as the Italian has options galore in Dewsbury-Hall's position. Playing as one of Chelsea's two midfielders when he has stepped onto the field for the Blues so far this season, the 26-year-old has some task trying to force his way ahead of both Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, with Romeo Lavia next in the pecking order after the duo.

Dewsbury-Hall was often used by Maresca in a more advanced midfield role at Leicester last season and it did bring out the best in him as he contributed with 12 goals and 15 assists. However, the problem for the player at Chelsea is that the head coach has an embarrassment of riches in those attacking areas.

Cole Palmer is first choice in the attacking midfield role, with Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku further cover there and the same going for Jadon Sancho if required. That just highlights that huge challenge facing Dewsbury-Hall when it comes to firmly establishing himself in Maresca's Chelsea XI.

The midfielder may not have the same influence on the Chelsea team that he had at Leicester but there is no doubting that he can play a role for the Blues over the course of the season. Opportunities in the Carabao Cup and Europa Conference League are perhaps the first step to Dewsbury-Hall going on to play a bigger part for Chelsea in the long run.

Maybe not the biggest game in Chelsea's calendar, Tuesday night's fixture against Barrow is certainly a big one for Dewsbury-Hall.