Why Enzo Maresca left out central midfield academy star who had perfect chance to shine | OneFootball

The good news from Chelsea’s team sheet to play Morecambe today was the sight of two players returning from injury to get a start. Both Romeo Lavia and Reece James have missed big chunks of this season, and we’re delighted to see them get the chance to ease back into action today.

Enzo Maresca must be desperate to have two such good players available, and his response to the news that they were back was very positive:

“It’s great news for us. Finally they are both back. They are important players since we started. It is our target that they can be with us until the end [of season] without injuries,” he said to BBC Sport.

“Also at the moment it’s good because we give them a chance to get minutes and be fit.”

If they get through an hour or so unscathed today, we imagine they could both potentially start on Tuesday night – although given how intense Bournemouth are, it’s probably more likely they’re saved for a second half 30 minutes or so.

Academy talent misses out thanks to terribly timed illness

Sam Rak-Sakyi dances through midfield. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

There was also an interesting note from Nizaar Kinsella, who says that young academy midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi could have made another start for the team today, had he not been struck down with food poisoning. We have been moaning about the lack of academy representation in the squad today – this certainly would have improved things a bit.

It is not only bad because it means the kid misses out on a huge chance to impress Maresca again, but also it means that Chelsea have to play an incredibly unbalanced midfield, with a half fit Lavia alongside Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku, perhaps the most attacking “midfield 3” you can imagine.