“I was wrong to leave him out of our last match and it really affected us but I would repeat the same mistake. He’s going to be key for our victory against Ipswich Town” – This is according to Enzo Maresca as he confirms the return of a crucial Chelsea player for the upcoming match against Ipswich Town following a recent “technical decision.”

Noni Madueke appears set to rejoin the Chelsea squad after being omitted from the lineup on Boxing Day. The Blues take on Ipswich Town tonight at Portman Road (December 30th, 7:45 pm), with a victory potentially propelling Enzo Maresca’s team back to second place in the Premier League. Despite his impressive debut season in the top flight, Maresca continues to downplay Chelsea’s title chances.

Madueke, who scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-2 victory over Wolves earlier this season, has netted five goals so far. However, he was notably absent from the 20-man squad in the recent 2-1 loss to Fulham. Addressing the decision to leave Madueke out, Maresca explained, “It’s just a technical decision. Sometimes we make choices, and that’s all there is to it.”

The 22-year-old winger is optimistic about being included in tonight’s squad, especially as Maresca expressed a more favorable outlook on his selection.

When asked about Madueke’s potential involvement against Ipswich, Maresca confirmed, “Yes, for sure. The competition needs to be higher, but it’s the same reason Renato Veiga wasn’t included. It’s purely a technical decision.”

Madueke has contributed four assists and one goal in his last six appearances across all competitions. His chances of returning may also be bolstered by Pedro Neto’s underwhelming performance against Fulham, as Maresca has little tolerance for subpar displays.