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Chelsea’s Noni Madueke Faces Extended Spell on Sidelines
The latest update from Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca indicates that winger Noni Madueke is likely to remain unavailable for selection until after the international break at the end of March. The 22-year-old player suffered an injury early in the team’s recent 3-0 loss to Brighton.
Maresca mentioned that several other players are also sidelined and are not expected to return before Chelsea’s upcoming match against Tottenham on April 2. Notable absentees include strikers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, along with centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, and midfielder Romeo Lavia.
“Noni [Madueke] will be out until the international break, probably,” Maresca stated during a recent press briefing. He expressed optimism that most of the injured players could return shortly after the break, which would significantly strengthen the squad.
Madueke recently made his England debut in September and participated in the final two matches of the Nations League in November, highlighting his growing presence in international football.
The next international break will take place from March 21-24, coinciding with England’s World Cup qualifying matches against Albania and Latvia. These matches will mark a significant challenge for new head coach Thomas Tuchel as he seeks to establish his influence over the team.
In the meantime, Chelsea is set to compete against Aston Villa in the Premier League this Saturday at 17:30 GMT. Currently, the Blues are positioned sixth in the league standings, tied on 43 points with fifth-placed Bournemouth, as they aim to improve their standing in the race for European qualification.
Source
www.bbc.com