'I don't think they are random' - Maresca concerned about injuries

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was unable to give much clarity on star forward Cole Palmer's ongoing injury issues when he spoke to the media on Monday.

The club is managing them on a "day-to-day" basis, according to Maresca, but when you have to take off Palmer at Old Trafford while a goal down - after just 21 minutes - then it is becoming a problem.

The Blues rank second in the Premier League's injury table, with seven out on either a short-term or long-term basis.

You could sense from the Italian's news conference that there is broader concern about injuries, not only on the seven unavailable, but also how it impacts those who are playing.

Maresca said: "It is a situation we need to manage because if we have Moi [Caicedo] with a small problem and, for instance, Romeo [Lavia] is fit, we can decide - or if Dario Essugo was fit, we can decide to give Moi some rest.

"But, in this moment, Dario is injured and Romeo is injured. We are in a new situation for us because of the Club World Cup, so we don't know how this season will be in terms of injury.

"I don't think the amount of injuries we have is random. We need to try to learn and manage the situation."

Maresca is likely to give some Chelsea academy players a chance against League One Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday.

Defender Benoit Badiashile and midfielder Lavia are not quite ready to return.