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Enzo Maresca handed timely Chelsea injury boost after memorable Liverpool victory
Oct 08 2025 15:38 · By Bobby Vincent
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Enzo Maresca during a Chelsea press conference (Image: Alexandra Beier/AFP)
Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong has been spotted training with the England Under-21s ahead of their fixtures against Moldova and Andorra.
The Blues centre-back limped off in the second-half of the memorable victory over Liverpool on Saturday afternoon with what appeared to me a muscular problem. After the game, assistant coach Willy Caballero , stepping in for the post-match press conference after Enzo Maresca was sent off, said the decisions to take Acheampong and his defensive partner Benoit Badiashile off were precautionary.
Acheampong, though, appears to be fine. The 19-year-old defender, who was imperious in the win over the Reds , has been training at St. George's Park this week as he prepares to compete for Lee Carsley's young Lions over the next 10 days.
Maresca will be pleased that Acheampong is fit as the last thing the Chelsea head coach needs is more of his defenders suffering an injury. The Blues were without Tosin Adarabioyo (calf), Wesley Fofana (concussion) and Levi Colwill (knee) for the win at the weekend, while Trevoh Chalobah sat out to serve his one-match suspension.
There is hope, however, Tosin will return for the trip to Nottingham Forest after the international break, with the defender working on his fitness back at Cobham this week. Fofana has been out on the grass in Surrey and is available again after sitting out of the action for 12 days following the concussion he suffered in the victory at Lincoln City last month in the Carabao Cup third round.
Chalobah will be available again after he served his suspension against the Reds. There is no update just yet on Badiashile after he limped off in the second-half on Saturday evening but there is hope that it is nothing too serious for the Frenchman, who has struggled with consistent injury problems since signing for Chelsea in January 2023.
Elsewhere, Dario Essugo remains out for the foreseeable future after he had surgery on a thigh problem last month. Liam Delap , too, is expected to be out of action until at least November with a hamstring injury, while we await to find out more on Cole Palmer and Andrey Santos ' muscular issues.