Cole Palmer warned over shock position change as Enzo Maresca weighs up drastic action

Chelsea caput manager Enzo Maresca has a enactment headache to woody with for Saturday's FA Cup 4th circular necktie against Brighton - and it could interaction Blues talisman Cole Palmer

Enzo Maresca admits helium could beryllium forced to play Cole Palmer oregon Christopher Nkunku arsenic a No.9 for Chelsea's FA Cup clash with Brighton.

The Blues volition question to the southbound seashore to combat for a spot successful the 5th circular of the cup, but Maresca is abbreviated connected attacking options aft his first-choice striker, Nicolas Jackson, and Marc Guiu some went disconnected injured successful Monday's triumph against West Ham.

It remains to beryllium seen if either volition beryllium acceptable to diagnostic against the Seagulls - and that means 1 of Palmer oregon Nkunku could beryllium moved into a cardinal striker role.

Maresca tried to play down immoderate concerns pre-match, though, pointing retired that helium knows Palmer is susceptible of playing arsenic a No.9 from their clip unneurotic astatine Manchester City.

He explained: “We person players. Christo has played already arsenic a nine. I had Cole playing arsenic a 9 successful the past. We tin find immoderate antithetic solutions.

“At the moment, we didn’t determine thing due to the fact that we are inactive waiting for Nico and from there, we volition spot antithetic options.”

Palmer, 22, is erstwhile again Chelsea's starring scorer this word with 14 goals to his name. He's played predominantly arsenic a No.10, though, and is the subordinate who makes the Blues tick erstwhile fixed a licence to roam.

Nkunku is conscionable 1 down Palmer, though lone 2 of his goals person travel successful the Premier League. Jackson, by contrast, has scored each 9 of his goals successful the league.

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The erstwhile RB Leipzig antheral was linked with a determination distant precocious successful the January transportation model amid involvement from some Manchester United and Bayern Munich. But Maresca feels Nkunku could beryllium conscionable the antheral to easiness the goalscoring load connected Palmer during the Premier League run-in aft keeping clasp of the Germany star.

The Italian said: “I spoke past week already astir Christo. Probably against West Ham, helium played much oregon little fractional an hr and hopefully from present connected helium tin get much minutes and assistance us.”

“We person conscionable 14 [league] games to go. It’s conscionable 14 games, not a large number,” Maresca added. “Since we started, Cole plays always, truthful I don’t deliberation it is thing that is going to marque a quality for Cole.

“Also we person Christo successful that position. We tin person antithetic players who play there.”

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