Enzo Maresca handed big Chelsea injury boost for Panathinaikos clash after Liverpool blow

Filip Jorgensen could return in time for Chelsea's Conference League league phase clash with Panathinaikos on Thursday.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper was not in the Blues' squad for their Premier League defeat to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon after he picked up an injury on international duty. Jorgensen was substituted at half-time of Denmark Under-21s' win over Finland last week after a collision with his teammate.

Denmark Under-21s' staff suspected concussion following the collision and Chelsea followed FA protocol which made the goalkeeper unavailable for the clash at Anfield, football.london understands. As reported last week, the Dane suffered an injury to his right eye and was taken off but has shown no adverse symptoms since returning to the club.

FA protocols regarding concussion usually take six days to complete. The FA and Premier League have clear 'return to play' guidelines for players who are suspected to have suffered concussion. No player will be allowed to return for a competitive game for at the very least six days.

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However, with this guideline, and presuming he passes all of the protocol, Jorgensen could be in contention to take on Panathinaikos in Greece later this week. Chelsea play their second league phase match against the Athens-based outfit on Thursday evening after beating Gent earlier in the month.

Jorgensen has started all of Chelsea's European matches so far, including the two playoff ties against Servette. If deemed fit enough, the former Villarreal shot-stopper is expected to start in place of Robert Sanchez, who has been Enzo Maresca's first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Sanchez has come under fire once again following Chelsea's defeat to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. The Spaniard was slow off his line to try and save Curtis Jones' effort, that ended up being the winning goal on 51 minutes at Anfield.

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