Chelsea vs. Barrow: Enzo Maresca reveals one player to return, confirms rotation for EFL Cup tie

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that there will be mass rotation for Tuesday's EFL Cup third-round tie against Barrow.

Maresca can claim to have enjoyed a positive start to life at Stamford Bridge, collecting 10 points from five Premier League fixtures and guiding the Blues into the league phase of the Europa Conference League.

However, Chelsea's schedule will now get far busier with a minimum of seven games in the EFL Cup and Europe before the end of the year.

He has already taken the decision to rest three key men in Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer for continental action, and other stars will be rested for the meeting with Barrow.

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One to return, one to miss out

At his pre-match press conference, Maresca was quizzed on the availability of Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia, who have each been absent since at least the international break.

While Gusto is in line to return from a thigh injury and potentially start at right-back, Maresca has revealed that midfielder Lavia will not be back in contention until Saturday's fixture with Brighton & Hove Albion at the earliest.

Maresca was also asked about individual players, including the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Mykhaylo Mudryk who have barely featured in recent weeks.

On Dewsbury-Hall, he said, as quoted by football.london: "We need to understand Kiernan was the main player at Leicester and he is not now.

"For him, you need to adapt, mentally you need to adapt. That period requires time to understand that and adapt. I am completely happy with Kiernan, the way he is doing."

On Mudryk, he added: "It's important for him and all for the rest. I cannot give all the players chances all the time. For instance, Benoit (Badiashile) is doing well. Tomorrow is a good chance for them to get some minutes and hopefully win the game."

Academy duo Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George are also confirmed to feature in the squad for the meeting with the League Two outfit.

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Who could be rested?

Despite only playing 64 minutes against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, Palmer and Nicolas Jackson may be given the night off at Stamford Bridge.

Levi Colwill has been an ever-present in Premier League games and may be rested, as could Moises Caicedo who has only missed 14 top-flight minutes and spent the international break in South America.

The same applies to Marc Cucurella, particularly when he was winning Euro 2024 with Spain on July 14 and has since started every league game.

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