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Enzo Maresca forced into unwanted Chelsea change for first time this season in Bournemouth clash

Enzo Maresca
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))


Malo Gusto is set to miss Chelsea's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the weekend.

The 21-year-old right-back has started every league game thus far this term but is expected to be sidelined for the trip to the south coast with a thigh problem. Gusto limped off in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace before the international break and thus withdrew from France's Under-21 squad a few days later.

The Blues defender has been an integral part of the squad since arriving from Lyon last summer - especially given the injury record of Reece James, the club's other right-back option. However, Gusto has too struggled with muscular injuries during his time at Stamford Bridge; perhaps to do with how much football he has had to play in the past 12 months or so.

It looks like Gusto will be missing on Saturday evening as Chelsea make their return to Premier League action but Enzo Maresca could be short when it comes to the right-back department. Last month, Maresca said James and Romeo Lavia should be in contention to return after the two-week international break but neither have been spotted in the training pictures released by the club this week.

If James is not available then Maresca may well turn to Axel Disasi. A centre-back by trade, but the French defender has been used on the right on numerous occasions since moving to Chelsea more than 12 months ago; including in the two Conference League matches the Blues have played thus far this season.

Either way, it looks like Maresca will be forced to change the back-four for the first time this season in the Premier League. Gusto has started every match so far in the league alongside Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella.

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Elsewhere in the team, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are set to start in midfield yet again given the uncertainty over Lavia and his fitness. Given the injury troubles the Belgian has had since signing for the club last summer, Maresca may look to take a cautious approach in easing the midfielder back into action.

Noni Madueke will be hoping to continue his brilliant recent form down on the south coast, while Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto could play in the middle and the left, respectively. Nicolas Jackson is expected to lead the line.

There could be some minutes for Jadon Sancho, who joined post-deadline day from Manchester United on a season-long loan deal. Sancho has had the benefit of working with his new teammates and head coach in the past two weeks after not being selected for the England squad.