Enzo Maresca issues positive fitness update ahead of Genk

Enzo Maresca has confirmed Reece James is the only player ruled out of tomorrow night’s Conference League clash with Gent due to injury.

The Blues welcome the Belgian side to Stamford Bridge as we get our UEFA Conference League group phase campaign started on Thursday evening.

Ahead of the European tie, Maresca confirmed he has a fully fit squad to choose from, minus James who remains sidelined, and the players who have been left out of the Conference League squad, such as Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Ben Chilwell.

‘They are all available unless they have been left out of the [Conference League] squad, plus Reece [James] is not available,’ our head coach confirmed at his pre-match press conference.

‘We try to share minutes with all of them. In this moment, it looks like we have players playing in the Premier League and in the cup competitions, but it is not like this. In this moment it is like this but in general it won’t be like this.

‘We try to give all the players the opportunity and against Barrow, they all did a very good game. Hopefully tomorrow we can do the same.’

Filip Jorgensen is expected to start in goal for Chelsea, with the summer signing having impressed in his cup outings so far, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will hope to return to the matchday squad having been left out by Maresca against Brighton.

‘Filip has to do well because we need him doing well, not because he needs to put pressure on Robert,’ added Enzo.

‘We need him to play a good game because the team needs him to play a good game. That’s the same with all the players.

‘For Kiernan, and all the players that were out of the squad, there was not a physical problem [against Brighton].

‘It [being out of the squad] happened with Kiernan last week and will happen with different players.

‘I am very happy with Kiernan and it was just a decision I made. It is the bad part of my job, it’s not the one I prefer but it’s part of my role.’