Enzo Maresca says there are “question marks” over whether South American quartet Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro, Estevao and Andrey Santos can feature in Chelsea’s away game at Brentford on Saturday.
The international break featured demanding travel for the four Chelsea stars, with Caicedo in action for Ecuador and Estevao, Santos and Joao Pedro featuring in a 1-0 defeat to Bolivia in high altitude in El Alto. That match ended in the early hours of Wednesday morning, British time.
Chelsea already have a number of fitness issues with Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill injured, Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile yet to return, and Cole Palmer facing a race to be fit for the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
Though Chelsea are helped by the Brentford match being a late 8pm kick-off on Saturday, Maresca would only have a shell of a squad at his disposal if he had to be without the four South Americans.
Enzo Fernandez, an Argentina international, did not travel during the international break as he was suspended for their World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador, the latter match of which saw Caicedo sent off for the Ecuadorians.
“The three Brazilian players arrived yesterday,” Maresca said in a press conference on Friday morning. “They didn't train. They did some recovery sessions.
“Moi arrived last night, so I didn't see him. I will see him today. For all of them it is a question mark for tomorrow.
“But when they play in Bolivia, it's so difficult that they can be back very soon.”
