Chelsea target goes in for major surgery as Blues risk repeat of costly Pochettino error | Football | Sport

Pochettino was forced to rejig his starting XI on a weekly basis whilst at the helm of the Blues due to recurring problems, and Maresca will be able to lay down a marker in some respect by ruling that his side should not pursue players who have a question mark over their fitness, like Gyokeres.

Chelsea appear to have paid the price for having to accelerate recovery periods over the course of the season, which may have led to some of the recurring problems that have kept some of their most exciting stars on the sideline.

Pre-season will be a key period for Maresca to get to grips with his squad and thus rushing Gyokeres back to fitness after forking out a mammoth fee to acquire his services is likely to be a step in the wrong direction by the Blues if they opt to overlook the surgery.