Liam Rosenior has announced that he chose to rest Cole Palmer and Reece James during the match against Charlton as a precautionary measure, following minor injuries sustained in the recent loss to Fulham.
The Blues secured a dominant 5-1 victory at The Valley under Rosenior’s management in his first game, without needing the star players.
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Rosenior made eight changes from the previous match against Fulham, which interim boss Calum McFarlane oversaw, and also left Palmer, James, and Malo Gusto out of the squad.
With Arsenal on the horizon for a Carabao Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday, Rosenior will need to evaluate his players, as the availability of the trio remains uncertain against the current Premier League leaders.
“Malo, Cole, and Reece were rested as a precaution,” Rosenior explained. “At this point in the season, I don’t want to take any risks. They were dealing with minor tweaks or knocks.
“I believe we have such a strong squad that we can afford to be cautious with their health.
“I have great faith in this team. If we aim for a successful season, we need to utilize all our players. They’ve given me plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future.”
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Teenage striker Marc Guiu made an impression during his rare start, while Rosenior was also pleased with the performances of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens on the flanks.
“I was very happy with the starting XI and the front three,” Rosenior remarked.
“I felt Ali (Garnacho) was relentless in his one-on-one situations, Marc Guiu was outstanding and earned his goal. Jamie consistently challenged the defenders and created numerous opportunities.
“There were many positives, marking a great start.”