That trio were all absent on Monday evening as the Blues defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Maresca confirmed after the game Colwill and Fernandez’s issues were minor but that further assessment was needed on Lavia.

While additional time is needed to understand the full extent of the Belgian midfielder’s injury, Maresca confirmed at his pre-match press conference this morning it’s likely Lavia will be sidelined for ‘a few weeks more’.

However, it was more positive news on Colwill and Fernandez, who are set to take part in training today at Cobham.

‘Probably Levi and Enzo could be ready [to feature against Man City],' he told reporters. ’It depends on today’s session.’

Cole Palmer was a doubt to face Wolves on Monday evening due to an ankle knock but was able to complete 84 minutes.

And ahead of his return to City, for who he made 41 first-team appearances after coming through their academy, Maresca confirmed the England international is fit to face to return to the Etihad.

‘He is better,’ said the Chelsea boss. ‘He did an unbelievable effort to play against Wolves and he is getting better.’

City are currently fifth in the Premier League table, two points below us in fourth, and on Wednesday suffered a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, having gone 2-0 up early in the second half.

However, after a run of only one win and six defeats in nine Premier League matches in November and December, the Citizens are now unbeaten in five games in the competition, winning three of them.

While City have performed below their exceptionally high standards this season, Maresca knows how impressive the club are first-hand having worked alongside Pep Guardiola on two separate occasions.

Maresca was the coach of the Elite Development Squad in 2020-21, guiding the club to their first-ever Premier League 2 title before subsequently taking up a new challenge as manager of Parma.

After a brief spell back in his native Italy, Maresca was rehired by City as one of Pep Guardiola's assistants and was part of the first team staff which lifted the club's first European and domestic treble during the 2022/23 campaign.

Maresca, who enjoys a good friendship with City counterpart Guardiola, said: ‘I think that [dips in form] is normal, it can happen. What is not normal is the amount of years they have won trophies, this is not normal. What is normal is to live moments like they are living in this moment. But they will be back soon, I have no doubt.'

He was asked by journalists whether now was a good time to be facing City, replying: ‘I don’t believe in these kind of things. I think more the other side; with this club and these players, when they are in a difficult moment, it is when they want to show how good they are.

‘They want to go against everyone saying, “if you think we’re not good enough, we’ll show everyone how good we are”. I don’t think there’s a good moment to play against City.’

'But for sure we are going to try to win tomorrow,' he later added.