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Chelsea take on Aston Villa on December 27 and are set to welcome back one key man, but one will unfortunately serve a one-match ban
Chelsea are set to welcome Estevao Willian back to the squad for next weekend's Premier League clash with Aston Villa. The Blues take on the high-flying Villa on December 27 at Stamford Bridge and should be boosted by the return of the Brazil international.
Estevao did not travel to Cardiff in midweek after picking up a minor knock and also missed Saturday afternoon's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St. James' Park. The 18-year-old, though, is closing in on a return to action in a major boost for the west Londoners.
It has been a fantastic start to life at Stamford Bridge for Estevao, who has scored five goals and produced one assist in 21 games in all competitions this season. However, in the Premier League, only six of his 14 appearances have come from the start.
Whether or not Enzo Maresca picks Estevao from the start versus Villa remains to be seen, but the Chelsea head coach will not be on the touchline on that day. The yellow card Maresca picked up in the draw with Newcastle was his third Premier League caution of the season, meaning he will serve his one-match touchline ban next Saturday.
When asked why he was booked, Maresca said: "It is better if... I was complaining just because the same foul was a yellow card for us and they did exactly the same foul three times.
"Make a foul from behind and no yellow card. So I was just complaining why the same foul, one is yellow card and the other one is no yellow card. So this is the reason why I complained with the referee."
Back in April, Maresca served a one-match ban in the 1-0 win over Everton and sat in the press box alongside journalists. That could be the case again next weekend with Maresca a fan of the view, just behind the dugouts at Stamford Bridge.
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