'I would love to rest Tosin' – Chelsea boss explains why Nigeria target may feature against Lincoln

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Tosin Adarabioyo will remain a central figure in the Blues' defence ahead of Tuesday's Carabao Cup third-round clash against Lincoln City.

The Italian tactician has revealed that the Nigeria target could be called upon to feature at the heart of the defence in the Carabao Cup clash at the LNER Stadium.

Speaking before the match, Maresca acknowledged the challenge of managing his defensive options amid injuries and returning players.

"I would love to rest [Tosin and Chalobah] because they deserve to rest," he explained to Chelsea's official website.

"The problem is that we have Wes, who is only playing after a long time out. Some of them need to play."

With Levi Colwill sidelined long-term and Wesley Fofana just returning from injury, Tosin's experience and reliability make him a crucial presence at the heart of Chelsea's backline.

Maresca highlighted the importance of not underestimating lower-league opposition and relying on key players like Tosin to provide stability.

The 27-year-old centre-back is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring defensive solidity while helping the team maintain momentum across a busy schedule of domestic and European fixtures.

So far this season, Tosin has started four of the six games contested by Chelsea in all competitions. 

Wale Adejumo

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com