Enzo Maresca has ideal Chelsea replacements for two players walking suspension tightrope
Enzo Maresca is blessed with a Chelsea squad packed full of talent that will never be short on alternative options for his first XI - and that is something he might have to utilise soon.
Nicolas Jackson and Pedro Neto are both close to being handed one-match bans in the Premier League due to yellow card accumulation ahead of a busy winter period. The pair sit on four cautions with seven games to play until the threshold rises to 10.
Maresca will be assessing which options could slot into the team should either player become unavailable, be it through suspension or injury. Thursday night might have given him food for thought.
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Christopher Nkunku is the natural next-pick for Chelsea should Jackson be ruled out. He has scored 11 times in 19 matches, although five of them have come against Europa Conference League minnows and just one has been notched in 11 Premier League outings.
Given his injury history too, Maresca has not been unreasonable in continuing to choose Jackson over Nkunku in the league. However, what Nkunku has shown is his ability to produce when called upon to start after a period of time on the bench.
His goal against Heidenheim yesterday means he has now scored in all but one cup game he has started this season. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk can boast of a similar return.
The Ukraine star has recorded a goal contribution in every Europa Conference League league phase match this season, including three goals in as many fixtures in the competition. His latest wrapped up the game for Chelsea on Thursday.
Jadon Sancho notably registered two assists for both goals on the night, and will also make a claim for the left-flank spot. Maresca has indeed tended to side with Sancho but Mudryk’s goals should not be ignored.
With Sancho often waning towards the end of the match, Maresca has the perfect compliment to the Manchester United loanee with Mudryk. The only trouble the Italian has upon a player's suspension is which replacement to pick.
