Chelsea have received a significant injury update amid more predictably bad news for one of their England internationals. Thankfully, four important players are thought to be ready to return against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.
However, another star of the Blues has been sidelined for a while with no comeback in sight. In fact, there is not even a time frame for the fullback to be in action with his CFC teammates. So what's the information given on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia?
Chelsea make some strides
We've said this before and been wrong, but Chelsea are beginning to look like a team again. This occurred once or twice in small bursts while Mauricio Pochettino was in charge of the Blues. Yet with the uncompromising Maresca at the helm, someone who has no time for sporting sentimentality - CFC is evolving once again.
I am not saying the Chels' side is a finished product. Far from it. Although they are managing to occasionally do things that a complete, competent and winning club does. One example is holding out in defence in awkward away games against outfits who have been freely scoring.
Obviously I was referring to the Bournemouth vs Chelsea fixture just then. Another even more important factor from that clash was, naturally, obtaining the three points. To do so at the end of a game is also a trait of superior teams.
Not to mention attaining victory when not collectively gelling too well, to be fair. One other element noted about the best sides is that they don't merely rely on their chosen starting XIs to get the job done. Chelsea do now have some adroit impact substitutes to field in the English top-flight and beyond. Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku particularly stand out in that regard.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca welcomes back crucial quartet
Now there is a further boost for the west Londoners in the form of returning stars and peripheral footballers with potentially vital respective roles. Fernandez, Gusto, Dewsbury-Hall and Lavia are, happily, back at training.
The CFC midfield was depleted at Vitality Stadium for the Cherries contest; it is a real bonus for the Italian to have the trio currently in contention. Fortunately this also means Axel Disasi hopefully won't be deployed at right back. Though another full back issue did arise:
"REECE JAMES has suffered a delay to his long-anticipated return for Chelsea.
The defender's latest hamstring injury has not healed as well as expected after he got crocked again in the summer. And club medics have now put his comeback on hold."