Maresca provides injury update as Chelsea prepare for Conference League tie

Key players Cole Palmer, Reece James, and Christopher Nkunku have all struggled with their fitness, which has complicated Chelsea's preparations for their pivotal UEFA Conference League second leg against Copenhagen.

The trio only resumed training on Tuesday, according to coach Enzo Maresca, after missing previous sessions because of unspecified issues. "For Cole, Reece and Christo, today has been first session [of the week]," Maresca stated, adding, "We will see tomorrow if we can use some of them". 

The Italian tactician faces a delicate balancing act, weighing the importance of the European fixture against the risk of exacerbating any potential injuries. To make matters worse, Maresca has confirmed that full-back Malo Gusto is still out for Thursday's clash. 

Long-term absentees Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke will also miss out, further limiting Maresca's attacking options. However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon, with the manager expressing optimism that both Jackson and Madueke could return after the upcoming international break. Despite these setbacks, Chelsea enter the match with a slender 2-1 aggregate lead from the first leg in Denmark.