Nkunku example, Lavia and Gusto boost, three youngsters - Things spotted in Chelsea training

Chelsea news as duo return to training session before their impending Premier League game against West Ham and three more involved from the club's29 academy.

Chelsea have a full week off as they prepare to make the short trip across London to take on West Ham. Having managed to hold off AFC Bournemouth before hitting back with a sucker punch, Enzo Maresca will be looking to record consecutive Premier League wins for the first time.

Despite the fortnight of work during September's international break, Chelsea still faltered on the south coast and had their goalkeeper, Rob Sanchez, to thank for staying in the match. However, while that overall performance was lacking, Jadon Sancho appeared to benefit from time on the training pitch.

He looked sharp as he came from the bench at the Vitality Stadium, setting up the only goal of the game. With a big squad on-hand and soon to be three competitions to manage, it is the sort of strength in depth that Maresca will need moving forward.

Here, football.london looks at what can be taken from the snap-shots of training so far this week;

Lavia is back

For the first time since the build-up to the second game of the season, Romeo Lavia is back in Chelsea training. Having missed the previous four Premier League games - and the return leg against Servette in the Conference League - it is a welcome boost for Maresca.

He has struggled to balance his midfield at times so far with Moises Caicedo once more left to do a lot of running to cover for the less mobile Enzo Fernandez and inexperience of Renato Veiga. Lavia started the campaign so well, having also impressed over the summer too.

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Now, he's spotted pressing Fernandez right in front of Maresca, putting on a beaming smile as he goes. Given his fitness problems over the past 18 months, there will be no rushing him back into the team but his presence will be massively appreciated nonetheless.

Gusto returns

Lavia wasn't the only one who took to the grass at Cobham either. Having been seen running with Ben Chilwell on the periphery of a session last week before the trip to Bournemouth, Gusto is in the fold as well.

He has only been out for one full game after going off against Crystal Palace in the second half before September's international break. It hasn't kept him away for long though with the two-week layoff coming at an ideal time.

Gusto is now seen trying to intercept a pass from Cesare Casadei, giving off another smile himself. From the gym he is also pictured stretching and putting in the work at Cobham.

Nkunku example

Chelsea have used Christopher Nkunku's goal against Bournemouth as evidence of their work in training. Seen behind an image of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall working with some weights in the gym, Nkunku's body is shown with specific areas of the movement circled.

Push and rotation have been highlighted as he holds off two defenders, with the headline; "Why we do what we do" written above the slide. It may well act as inspiration for Nkunku's teammates to give it everything in training, especially as Maresca himself has delivered the message that selection will be based upon how players perform at their Surrey-based complex.

Three youngsters involved

Maresca turned to the academy for extra reinforcements in training, bringing defender Ato Ampah and attacking wonderkid Donnell McNeilly across to the senior setup. Ampah has been involved previously, but it has not been a common theme for McNeilly, who scored over 25 goals last season, to get the honour.

Michael Olise's brother, Richard, was also seen in the background of images and appeared to get a go. He signed a new contract with the club over the summer.

For Maresca, it comes with Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George already being offered first-team opportunities this season, although they are yet to be expressed in the form of minutes, so far. The pair both played in a 6-3 win over Brentford on Sunday for the Under-21 side.

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Chelsea ended the 2023/24 Premier League season on a high, but it is never quiet at Stamford Bridge and the summer looks set to be one full of news, with question marks over Mauricio Pochettino's future at the club and plenty of talk around transfers.

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