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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Why Chelsea fans will have to wait to see Joao Felix debut

Joao Felix was confirmed on Wednesday as Chelsea’s 10th summer signing, but fans must be patient before they see the £44.5million forward in action.

For Portugual international Felix, it is his second spell at Stamford Bridge after a six-month loan spell which began with a red card in his first game and ended with four goals in 20 games.

So Felix is gearing up for his second Blues debut, but manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed the 24-year-old will not be involved in Thursday’s Europa Conference League play-off first-leg clash against Servette.

A squad list has already been submitted to UEFA. and Maresca told reporters on Wednesday: “He’s not on the list for tomorrow.”

Like a new signing: Joao Felix (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Regarding where Felix will be used, Maresca added: “Joao can play as an attacking midfielder, No.9, as a winger. And we have many games."

So, Felix’s likeliest date for a second debut is away at Wolves on Sunday in the Premier League.

Also missing from the squad to face Servette is Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana and Ben Chilwell, but Tosin Adarabioyo has been included after an “admin error”, reports the BBC, saw the summer not initially not included.

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