BREAKING Enzo Maresca issues Enzo Fernandez injury update ahead of Chelsea vs Ajax

Enzo Maresca has provided an update on Enzo Fernandez ahead of Chelsea's clash against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League. The 24-year-old midfielder was left out of the matchday squad at the weekend when the Blues stormed past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Fernandezpulled out of the Argentina squad midway through the October international break due to ‘inflammation of the knee’. The Chelsea maestro played 78 minutes in a 1-0 win over Venezuela before missing a 6-0 victory against Puerto Rico a few days later.

Despite getting some extra rest, Fernandez wasn't fit enough to make the bench in the East Midlands. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, Maresca insisted he'll continue to protect the Argentine.

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The Blues boss said: "Enzo took part in the session yesterday. We have one more session this afternoon and we will decide with him tomorrow. It is not something we have to be worried about. It's to try and protect Enzo."

On the injury crisis at Stamford Bridge, Maresca added: "It's difficult, especially because most of the injuries we had were one or two days before the game. We are trying to adapt.

"It's complicated because sometimes you plan for some players to play one week, but then you need that player because of another injury."

Maresca also provided an update on Liam Delap, who's been nursing a hamstring injury. The 22-year-old striker suffered the problem during Chelsea's 2-0 win over Fulham just before the September international break.

Fortunately, Delap didn't require surgery. Maresca said: "Liam is very close. He is not working with us yet. He is still out. Hopefully, in the next days, he can start training with us."

With Delap still out, Marc Guiu will be determined to stake his claim for a place in the starting lineup. The 19-year-old striker hasn't featured much since Chelsea recalled him from his loan at Sunderland.

However, he made a great impression when he was brought on at half-time at the weekend. On Guiu, Maresca said: "We have him and Tyrique. He can play as a number nine.

"We have different options - we will see after the session this afternoon," added the Chelsea boss. "We trust Marc. We trust him last year, he was playing in the Conference League. We gave him some Premier League games. He will play games for us, for sure."

Chelsea will lock horns with Ajax at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening. On the Dutch giants, Maresca said: "They always try to play their football. For sure, it will be a difficult game.

"They are a club that have won this competition in the past. They want to prove to everyone that they can come here and beat us. We are going to try and do exactly the same."

On playing in the Champions League, Maresca said: "It's a nice competition because you play against a fantastic club. We were not happy with the result at Bayern but the performance, we were happy with.

" We knew that was a difficult game. Benfica, we tried to prepare the game to win the game in the best way but when you face this kind of club, there are always things you can learn after the game. It is going to be exactly the same tomorrow."