Chelsea have put Wesley Fofana on a strict one-game-per-week fitness programme to avoid the £80million defender suffering yet another serious injury.
Fofana, 23, after making his name at , only for three separate knee injuries to blight his first couple of seasons at Stamford Bridge. The international has already missed more than 70 games for through injury, but he's notably stayed fit since the beginning of this season.
That's likely down to Chelsea only allowing Fofana to play one game every week, leaving him out of their and Conference League squads and letting him focus on action, just as they've done with star . French outlet report that the strategy has been strict since manager has 'fallen in love' and values the centre-back.
Quick and comfortable on the ball, Fofana suits Maresca's style of play and has helped the Blues win four of their last five league games. The 23-year-old was called up to the France squad this month and could earn his second senior cap when side face on Monday in Brussels.
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Deschamps hinted at Chelsea's plan for Fofana - which will remain in place until 2025 - last week, saying: "He has a programme which is adapted at the moment where he plays the Premier League matches and he has clearly responded. He is coming off a period of inactivity but since the last month he was able to continue playing matches and to perform."
Fofana notably had the chance to leave Stamford Bridge over the summer, as boyhood club came calling. "I would be lying if I said I didn't weigh it up," Fofana revealed to .
"It was from , Marseille's sporting director. "It touched me and I think everyone knows why. I thought about it but there you go, the current objective is to succeed at Chelsea, to try and play regularly, and to establish myself at my club."
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He added: "We'll see one day. I still have a contract until 2029 and we'll see after that. I have never hidden it, [Marseille] is my city, my club, I am an OM supporter."
Fofana is suspended for next Sunday's trip to face top-of-the-table at Anfield, having managed to pick up a yellow card in five of his seven Premier League appearances this season - the same as team-mate . A win would move Chelsea within a point of high-flying Liverpool.
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