Chelsea have four stars who must impress Enzo Maresca in last-chance saloon Barrow tie

Chelsea have enjoyed a positive start to their Premier League campaign, winning three of their opening five matches, in which they’ve scored 11 goals. Now, Enzo Maresca turns his focus towards early silverware as the Blues begin their Carabao Cup campaign by hosting Barrow in the third round.

Maresca has hinted that he will take the opportunity to rotate his bloated squad when the League Two side visit Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Express Sport looks at four members of the first team who could use the cup clash to battle their way into the Italian’s thinking for the remainder of the season.

Ben Chilwell

Ben Chilwell is yet to play a minute this season after being exiled from Maresca’s squad during the summer in the hope he would seal a move away from Chelsea.

An exit didn’t transpire so the 27-year-old was invited back to first-team training last week, and Maresca has confirmed he will be involved against Barrow.

“They [players such as Chilwell] are going to be the ones who will be in the squad vs Barrow,” Maresca explained during his press conference.

“Some we will see if they start, but if not, they will all be on the bench, and hopefully, we can give them some minutes.”

Cesare Casadei

Cesare Casadei looked to have a good chance of breaking through at Chelsea this season after Maresca arrived from Leicester City.

The 21-year-old midfielder spent the first half of last season working under Maresca at the King Power Stadium before being recalled from his loan in the winter.

However, he was excluded from Chelsea’s pre-season tour squad and has yet to feature this term after being the subject of intense exit speculation.

Casadei was named on the bench for the Premier League draw against Crystal Palace at the start of September, and he’d be disappointed to miss out in the Carabao Cup.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Carney Chukwuemeka only made 12 appearances for Chelsea last season after his £20million switch from Aston Villa due to three separate injuries.

Only two of those were starts, and he has yet to feature in a single squad this term, fuelling uncertainty about his future.

Maresca didn’t exactly simmer speculation when he suggested that Chukwuemeka would have to find another team if he wanted game time this season.

Barrow represents a prime opportunity to feed the midfield prospect’s desire for minutes, though. Another exclusion wouldn’t bode well for his future.

Mykhaylo Mudryk

Time is running out for Mykhaylo Mudryk to prove he can make it at Chelsea – especially due to the added competition in Joao Felix, Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto.

The £89m winger hasn’t produced a goal or assist for his club or country in 2024 and has quickly fallen out of favour under Maresca.

After starting the last three Premier League games on the bench, he is in line to play from the off against Barrow on Tuesday night.

Occasions like these are the ones he must showcase what he can do before his opportunities are slashed altogether.