Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that left-back Ben Chilwell will return to the squad for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round match against League Two leaders, Barrow.
This marks Chilwell’s first appearance of the season, following a period of uncertainty regarding his future at Stamford Bridge.
The England international was initially poised to leave the club over the summer, after Maresca informed him he was not part of his plans going forward.
The Chelsea boss had even publicly declared that Chilwell had no future at the West London side, fueling speculation of an imminent transfer.
However, the situation appears to have changed, with Maresca announcing that Chilwell has been welcomed back into first-team training and will feature in the squad for the upcoming cup tie.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Barrow clash, Maresca said, “Ben Chilwell will be in the squad for tomorrow’s game. He is training. Hopefully, we can give him some minutes.”
This U-turn signals a shift in Maresca’s stance, as he looks to reintegrate the experienced defender into the fold. Chilwell, who joined Chelsea from Leicester City in 2020, has been a key figure for the Blues but struggled with injuries last season, which may have contributed to his uncertain status at the club.
Chelsea fans will be eager to see the England defender back in action as the team seeks to progress in the Carabao Cup, following an inconsistent start to the season.
The third-round tie against Barrow offers Maresca the opportunity to rotate his squad while giving Chilwell valuable minutes to regain match fitness.