Marc Cucurella’s late sending off in last weekend’s victory over Brentford has handed Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca a headache ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Everton.
Cucurella picked up a booking deep into stoppage time as the Blues clung on to a 2-1 win over their west London rivals at Stamford Bridge but was then shown a second yellow card for his part in a fracas after the final whistle.
With the Spaniard suspended for one game for the second time this season and club captain Reece James still sidelined with a hamstring injury, Maresca is short at full-back.
Here are the Italian’s options ahead of the Blues’s final Premier League trip to Goodison Park, where victory would take Chelsea top of the table, at least until Liverpool play Tottenham later on Sunday afternoon.
Veiga to deputise
Renato Veiga’s versatility has so far mainly been utilised in the Conference League, but the Portuguese international could come straight into the league team as the closest thing to a like-for-like replacement for Cucurella at left-back.
Veiga, who was signed from Swiss side Basel in the summer, can play in midfield and at centre-back but has most commonly been used on the left of defence.
The 21-year-old has started only one league game for Chelsea, the 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in September, but has impressed in Europe and scored in the 3-1 win away to Astana earlier this month.
Gusto swaps flanks
Though primarily a right-back, Malo Gusto can play on both flanks and started at left-back on Chelsea’s last trip to Merseyside, to face Liverpool earlier this season.
The Frenchman shifting to left-back would allow Maresca to use Moises Caicedo as a right-back inverting into midfield.
The Ecuadorian was superb in the role in the recent home win against Aston Villa, but after continuing with the tactic away to Tottenham in the following game, Maresca pushed him back into midfield at half-time as the Blues came from behind to win.
Being able to use Caicedo at right-back largely depends on whether Romeo Lavia is fit to return in midfield after a minor hamstring problem.
Acheampong the wildcard
If Gusto is to move to left-back then Maresca has several other options in terms of more conventional right-backs.
Axel Disasi, a centre-back by trade, has played in the position on several occasions this season, while Tosin Adarabioyo is also capable, though he may be needed at centre-back alongside Levi Colwill if Benoit Badiashile remains out.
The wildcard option could be youngster Josh Acheampong. The 18-year-old had been frozen out of the squad amid a contract dispute earlier this season, but returned to the fold against Astana last week and got another chance to impress when Shamrock Rovers came to Stamford Bridge in the Conference League on Thursday night, having finally agreed a new deal.
