It was another bright if cold afternoon in Surrey as Enzo Maresca and his men got to work in the knowledge a win tomorrow would cement our position in the top four.

Ahead of the session starting, the head coach answered questions from the assembled media at Cobham. Maresca confirmed Noni Madueke is available again after illness, while Reece James and Romeo Lavia are fit to start their second game in four days if needed.

Bournemouth travel to Stamford Bridge three points off the Blues after a fantastic first half of the campaign, in which they have troubled many of the big sides and made a habit of scoring crucial late goals. Maresca explained what makes the Cherries such dangerous opposition right now.

‘They are very tough, and they press with real intensity which makes it difficult for teams,’ he said.

‘That is the reason they are doing well, not only this season but also last season too, because they are very good at pressing.

‘They always try to be intense and it’s quite clear what they do on and off the ball. They are direct, physically very strong and quick. So we know it will be a tough game.’

It was Christopher Nkunku who netted the winner in the reverse fixture back in September, while another forward, Nicolas Jackson, is looking for his first goal since our most recent league success, against Brentford last month.

‘He has to continue to work in the way he is working,’ Maresca said of Jackson today.

‘We are completely happy with Nicolas and don’t judge him just because of goals, we judge him on different things.

‘He has also been a little bit unlucky because in all the games he didn’t score, he had chances to score. Sometimes you don’t score, so he has to continue in the same way.’