Enzo Maresca reveals extent of Malo Gusto injury | OneFootball

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that Malo Gusto did not sustain any lasting damage despite hobbling off just 25 minutes into his side's Conference League victory on Thursday night.

Gusto lined up against FC Copenhagen at left-back while Trevoh Chalobah filled in on the right side of defence and Reece James took up an unusual position in midfield. However, Maresca's tinkering needed further tweaks before the half-hour mark.

The French full-back required medical attention after a collision inside the opening 15 minutes and appeared to damage the same left ankle while blocking a cross ten minutes later. Marc Cucurella was ushered off the bench and helped Chelsea earn a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their last-16 tie, but concerns over the future availability of Gusto were quickly raised.

Maresca swiftly quashed those fears when he was asked about the defender's fitness after the match. "He is okay," the Italian boss assured reporters. "He is better. They told me he can be ready for Sunday's game, so hopefully, we can have him for Sunday."

Chelsea host relegation-battling Leicester City this weekend. Alongside the expected return of Gusto, Maresca confirmed that midfielder Romeo Lavia would be available in some capacity for the first time in almost two months.

"The good thing is that we have also Romeo," the Blues boss told his press conference on Friday. "He's started with us already. He can be back." Maresca went on to clarify that Lavia's involvement would be restricted to a substitute appearance.

Former Foxes defender Wesley Fofana could also feature while both Benoit Badiashile and Chalobah made their return from injury in the midweek trip to Denmark.

The major outstanding fitness issues Maresca has been left with reside in his forward line. Chelsea's only two natural strikers, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, are expected to be sidelined with muscular issues until April at the earliest, while winger Noni Madueke is nursing a hamstring problem which has put him on a similar recovery timeline.