Chelsea’s Essugo suffers apparent setback in comeback from injury

Enzo Maresca has suggested that Chelsea midfielder Dario Essugo has suffered a setback in his bid to return from injury.

Essugo, 20, was signed from Sporting during the summer but has yet to feature this season, having been sidelined by a thigh injury he suffered in September while on international duty with Portugal Under-21s.

He had surgery and was initially expected to be out until the new year.

However, Chelsea head coach Maresca revealed last week that Essugo was back in training, seemingly on course for an earlier return to action.

That appeared to be a timely boost for the Blues, with Romeo Lavia out injured and Moises Caicedo suspended for three matches after being sent off during the draw against Arsenal at the weekend.

But Maresca indicated on the eve of the away match against Leeds that Essugo will not be an option for the time being.

Maresca said: “Dario, he was okay. He has started some (training) sessions with us. Now he needs to slow down a little bit, so he will be out again. But hopefully (it’s) nothing important.”

Andrey Santos is in contention to start against Leeds, while other options include moving Enzo Fernandez to a deeper role or defender Josh Acheampong into midfield.

“Andrey is ready. His position is playing as a number six, like Moi,” Maresca said.

“One that can play in that position is Josh Acheampong, but we will see.”

Cole Palmer, who returned to the squad against injury against Arsenal but was an unused substitute, is again in contention to make his return.