Enzo Maresca jokes, you may have to play in front in the middle of the growing injury problems of Chelsea, with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu

Enzo Maresca joked that he could have to play in advance after the injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, along with a lack of movement in the January transfers market, left Chelsea in front of a scarcity of striker before the cup trip Fa from tomorrow to Brighton.

Even Shumaira Mheuka, the 17 -year -old academy graduate who has been outside the first team this season, is overcoming a thigh problem with Maresca considering using Cole Palmer or Christopher Nkunku, none of which are strikers, out of necessity.

Jackson picked up a minor problem in the hamstrings in the victory back to the Premier League 2-1 on Monday over West Ham and, although Chelsea is hope that he will not stay out of time, Maresca admitted that it would be a “risk” to use it In the Amex stadium. His 19 -year -old Guiu will disappear for several weeks after hurting the upper leg in the same game.

Chelsea finished the January window with a weaker attack than the one they had at the beginning when they lent Joao Felix, who could have been an option to lead the line, to AC Milan without bringing a new striker. Felix scored in his debut in Milan in the middle of the week.

Mail Sport asked Maresca at today's press conference to list her forward's options if she is without Jackson and Guiu in Brighton, and the Blues head responded by pointing to himself. Smiling, he continued: 'Christo has already played as nine. He had Cole playing about nine in the past. We can find a different solution.

'It is bad luck that of the same game (against West Ham), two strikers are injuries. Fortunately, the Nico One looks pretty good, so it is not a problem. It is a shame for Marc.

Enzo Maresca's lateral face, a trip to Brighton, while looking to keep their Copa FA campaign alive

Maresca will lack options at the top, with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu.

'The reason Marc was still here in January was because I can see, day by day, that he is growing, improving, improving. It is a shame now that it is injured. The future will surely be 100 percent with him because he is a very good player '.

In Felix, which Chelsea allowed to leave only six months in a seven -year contract, Maresca rejected suggestions that he did not want to sign the 25 -year -old Portuguese who cost £ 46.3 million from Atlético de Madrid in the summer.

“If Joao was here, it's because he wanted to sign Joao,” said Maresca. 'I don't know about the future. It is difficult to talk about the future.

Chelsea had until 11 pm on Thursday to confirm his updated team of the Conference League, which will be valid until the final in Wroclaw on May 28.

With only three new incorporations allowed according to the UEFA rules, they have brought Palmer, Trevoh Chabah and his only January firm in the 19-year-old midfielder Mathis Amougou, who joined Saint-Etienne for £ 12 million. Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia will not play a role in European competition, since they are still returning from great injuries.

Palmer stayed out of the phase of the League in an attempt to manage his minutes, but the departure of Felix, who was his main deputy in No. 10, means that he faces a demanding final of the season. “I don't think it's something that makes a difference for school,” Maresca replied before adding if Chelsea will need to visit a striker again when the window opens. “Sure, in the summer, we will see if we need something different, not only in terms of striker but in general. From there, we decided.