Sky Sports pundit says whether Malo Gusto should start over Reece James after Chelsea’s win vs Wolves

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will have a bit of a dilemma when Reece James is available for selection again.

Reece James is not able to play for Chelsea right now, with the right-back both injured and suspended.

In his absence, just like last season, Malo Gusto has come in for the Chelsea captain. The 21-year-old was really good for the Blues in the previous campaign, registering six assists in 27 Premier League appearances.

Gusto caught Gary Cahill’s eye during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States earlier this summer, and Jamie O’Hara has now been discussing whether he should be the team’s first-choice right-back.

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Jamie O’Hara on Malo Gusto and Reece James

O’Hara is a big fan of Gusto, and while the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder thinks that James is a “great player”, he has suggested that the former should be a starter for Chelsea.

Speaking on Sky Sports after Chelsea’s 6-2 win against Wolves, O’Hara said: “I like Gusto. I think Chelsea fans are starting to move away from Reece James now. Look, he’s a great player, he’s come through the youth system, but he’s always injured.

“So you can’t rely on him to be fit all the time and I think Gusto’s been really good. And I’d say, at the moment, Gusto, even if Reece James was fit, would probably start.”

Another pundit, however, does not want to see a Chelsea team without James. Mario Melchiot claims Chelsea need James, who could return to action after the international break.

Malo Gusto and Noni Madueke, Chelsea’s new right wing?

While Gusto started at right-back in the win away at Wolves, Noni Madueke played ahead of him in the right-wing position.

He did not disappoint there, grabbing a hat-trick and giving Maresca something to really think about.

After all of the attacking signings Chelsea have made this summer, it looked like Madueke could have been moved on.

Chelsea were willing to sell Madueke for £60m, it had been claimed. After that hat-trick, though, there is no way that he is going to be sold, and you would now not rule out the 22-year-old becoming a starter.

It means, going forward, Madueke and Gusto could form Chelsea’s right wing, with James just not able to remain fit. If he can, it certainly will be interesting to see which right-back Maresca goes with.