Chalobah and Fernandez were both named in Maresca’s starting line-up at the Stadio di Bergamo for our UEFA Champions League meeting with Atalanta. Unfortunately we weren’t able to bring the three points back to London, after Joao Pedro’s opening goal was cancelled out and we eventually succumbed to a 2-1 defeat in Italy.

Chalobah was replaced at half-time by Fofana, only for the French defender to catch a boot in the face while on the floor following a challenge and having to make way himself, to be replaced by Tosin Adarabioyo, appearing to be in some discomfort as he walked off into the tunnel.

‘The change of Tosin was because we needed to change Wes, so that was forced on us for sure,’ confirmed Maresca after the game in Bergamo.

‘Wes has a problem in his eye. In this moment it is quite bad, he struggles to see a little bit. But hopefully he can be okay and available for Saturday.’

It seems the chances are promising that if Fofana does recover in time for Everton’s visit to Stamford Bridge in three days’ time, he could be joined in the matchday squad by Chalobah and Fernandez.

Our head coach also insisted there are no serious concerns which led to either player’s substitution against Atalanta, it was primarily a case of attempting to manage their work load during a busy period.

‘Both changes were because Trev and Enzo, they are both playing every minute in every game, so they both were not 100 per cent.

‘Also one of the reasons with Trev was that he had a yellow card and we wanted to avoid any problems with that, so those are the reasons why we changed them.’

Hopefully then, all three will be ready and available when we attempt to bounce straight back from the loss to Atalanta when Everton come to west London in the Premier League for a 3pm kick-off this Saturday.