Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Chelsea will be without Brazilian striker Willian Estevao for the trip to Newcastle United on Sunday.
Chelsea’s route to the Carabao Cup semi-finals continued without the 18-year-old as the Blues secured a 3-1 win at League One side Cardiff City without including him in the matchday squad.
Since arriving in the capital from Palmeiras this summer, the teenager has stood out, recording five goals and one assist in 21 games. However, Enzo Maresca has remained cautious in his deployment and limited the winger to short substitutes in recent weeks.
Preference was instead given to Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho, and while fitness would likely have involved him on Tuesday night, the youngster is now set for a time-out and is not expected back until Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Newcastle on Saturday.
When asked about Estevao after the match, Maresca said, ‘[It’s a] minor muscle problem. He will not be available for Newcastle. We’ll see for the next one. I think he could be available for the next one.”
Estevao expected to return for the match against Aston Villa
However, Chelsea fans won’t have to wait long to see Estevao back in action, according to a report from Football London reveals the Brazil international is expected to return in time for the crucial match against Unai Emery’s league-chasing Aston Villa side on Saturday, December 27.
Chelsea have already faced a series of notable fitness issues during the current season.
For much of the season, Enzo Maresca’s team was without Cole Palmer, who is regularly called his most influential player by the head coach.
The attacker is still struggling with a groin injury and was left out of the selection for the match against Cardiff.
Defensive problems have also increased, with Levi Colwill, Maresca’s favorite centre-back, suffering a cruciate ligament fracture on the opening day of a shortened pre-season following the Club World Cup.
Furthermore, summer signing Liam Delap has been limited to just six starts this season due to repeated injury setbacks.
Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro have all started despite underlying muscle problems as Chelsea try to deal with the after-effects of a demanding, busy summer schedule.
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