Statistics following Brentford’s win at West Ham on Monday evening show there have been an average of 3.85 long throws into the opposition box per game this term. That figure is more than double last season’s average of 1.52.

Sunderland are responsible for the second most in the Premier League, behind only Brentford, who equalised against us through a long throw last month. And with the Black Cats in town today, Maresca knows his side must be ready to handle the danger they pose.

‘Knowing that at this moment most teams in the Premier League - but also in other leagues - are using long throws, we try to find solutions and learn how we can deal with that,’ said Maresca.

‘It’s difficult. Most of the long throws go inside the six-yard box, so it’s complicated. We have reviewed the goal Brentford scored against us not only this week, because we are playing Sunderland, but other teams we faced after Brentford who use a long throw.’

It is unlikely we will see Chelsea using the method any time soon, although Maresca acknowledged their growth this season is another sign of the way football develops in different eras.

Of course, the greatest exponent of the long throw in Premier League history, Rory Delap, is the father of our striker, Liam.

‘If we don’t do it, it’s probably because I don’t like it, but you need to evolve in football, so probably one day I will do it. In this moment, we don’t plan to play with throw-ins, but it’s a matter of evolution and probably one day we will.

‘If clubs do it, it’s because they think it’s good to do. Long throw-ins now are more or less like ten or 15 years in England – and Liam’s dad was the king of long throw-ins!

‘In case we decide to go for long throw-ins, we will take out Liam and bring on his dad!’ joked Maresca.

But has Liam followed in his father’s footsteps by possessing a long throw?

‘We didn’t try! I will ask him. That’s a good one. The problem is if the striker does the long throw, who is inside the box?!’