Top News

Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo have hinted at their involvement for Chelsea versus Wolverhampton Wanderers despite Enzo Maresca acknowledging that they have missed training sessions due to minor injury issues.

Both players featured for the majority of their midweek Champions League match versus Qarabag in Azerbaijan. Caicedo came on after eight minutes to replace the injured Romeo Lavia.

The midfielder has played in all but one of their matches this season; the only exception was when he was an unused substitute in the League Cup third-round tie against Lincoln City. Pedro was rested from the squad entirely on that occasion and went unused as a substitute when they faced this weekend's opponents in the following round.

• Chelsea predicted XI vs Wolves as Enzo Maresca makes six changes with huge Pedro Neto decision
• Chelsea star snubs France and switches international allegiance before AFCON

Maresca included both players when discussing those in the squad playing through issues. "We have Caicedo, we have Enzo Fernandez, we have Pedro Neto, we have Joao Pedro.

"They are all players who are not training every day because of small issues. So if we are able to give them some time off, rest, it's better."

However, that rest will seemingly not come this weekend, as both players have shared matchday posts on their Instagram story both the game. Caicedo went early with his on Friday night, as did Robert Sanchez, but Pedro waited until the day of the match.

His post came hours after the club shared one of their own, which features Malo Gusto. They also used a photo of Pedro on Friday to advertise that, at the time, limited VIP seats were still available in Club Chelsea for the match.

Gusto was an unused substitute in midweek after also not being part of the squad at all when they hosted Ajax last month. However, the right-back has started both domestic matches since serving a one-match suspension after being sent off against Nottingham Forest.

Maresca also confirmed during his pre-match press conference that Estevao is definitely "ready to start". "For sure, he's ready to start," the Chelsea head coach said.

"But if Estevao starts, another one is on the bench, and probably the other one also wants to start. We just try to do the best for Estevao.

"We are helping him in terms of adapting to England. Again, last week he was complaining about it being cold. Last week was still October. Imagine December, January! He has to adapt. He's happy, he's doing fantastic. For sure, he's a talented player for this club."