Enzo Maresca confirms Wesley Fofana is ‘completely fine’ to face Everton

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that centre-back Wesley Fofana is ‘completely fine’ to face Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea’s struggles so far in December continued with a 2-1 defeat in the Champions League, extending their winless run to four games.

Fofana, who came on at the break during Tuesday’s defeat to Atalanta, was eventually forced to withdraw after being hit in the face by an opponent’s boot.

Joao Pedro initially put the visitors ahead with a close-range finish. Yet some weak defense after the break allowed the Italian side to turn the game around, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring the decisive goal.

Maresca opted for five changes from the draw with Bournemouth and as expected, Fofana started the evening among the substitutes.

He replaced Trevoh Chalobah on the restart, but was removed again after the blow to the face.

It was understood the defender was suffering from eye problems and was unable to continue, adding to the 24-year-old’s catalog of setbacks.

Boost

Although he should have reacted better to the equalizer, Fofana has been instrumental in Chelsea’s recent defensive revival, with Maresca revealing the severity of the injury after the match.

“He had a problem with his eye,” he said at the post-match press conference.

‘It’s very bad. He had some trouble seeing, but hopefully he can be available on Saturday.’

However, speaking to the media ahead of the Everton match, Maresca gave a much more positive update on the Frenchman.

‘He’s available; He’s fine,” he said to his press conference before the match.

“He took part in the session yesterday and he is doing absolutely fine.”

After repeatedly dealing with long-term fitness issues during his time at Chelsea, Fofana is following a program that Maresca believes will eventually allow the defender to play twice a week.

That gradual build-up has coincided with an effective understanding between him and Trevoh Chalobah, a partnership that has produced four clean sheets in the five games they have started together.

Yet his mistake against Atalanta proved costly; Scamacca slipped away from him in the penalty area, leaving the striker with a free header that brought the Italians level.

Maresca will be keen to see Fofana hone this side of his game against strong aerial Everton, especially against Thierno Barry, who currently holds the season record of 14 aerial matches won in the recent away win at Manchester United.