Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that teenage forward Tyrique George “probably isn’t 100 per cent” ready to step into the starting XI but may have to do so due to the club’s growing injury crisis.
The Blues’ struggles continued last Friday with a 3-0 defeat to Brighton, a match that saw Noni Madueke suffer a hamstring injury.
The England winger is expected to miss Chelsea’s next six games, adding to an already lengthy list of absentees, including Nicolas Jackson, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Romeo Lavia.
Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of replacing key players but hinted that George, who has made 12 appearances this season, could be given more opportunities despite his inexperience.
“He’s young and not fully ready, but with the number of injuries we have, we need to use the players available,” Maresca said in his pre-match press conference. “Hopefully, we can give him more chances, and he can help us.”
Chelsea’s upcoming trip to Aston Villa is crucial, with the Blues aiming to reclaim a top-four spot. However, Maresca expects a tough challenge against Unai Emery’s side, who remain contenders for Champions League qualification despite a recent dip in form.
“Villa have done fantastic under Emery, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals and fighting for the top four,” Maresca noted.
Despite Chelsea’s injury setbacks, the Italian remains optimistic about finishing the season strongly.
“With 14 games left, our goal is still to finish in the top four,” he said. “Like other teams, we’ve been hit by injuries, but we’ll do our best to keep winning games.”
As the Blues navigate their injury crisis, all eyes will be on whether young talents like George can step up in the crucial weeks ahead.