A deal with Chelsea worth a reported £40 million ($52.8 million) was belatedly wrapped up at the end of August. Maresca has used Garnacho sparingly since which—as he is at pains to outline—was a direct consequence of the summer standoff.

Liam Delap is set to return for Chelsea on Wednesday against Wolves in the Carabao Cup. Delap, a big-money summer signing from relegated Ipswich, has been out of action since the end of August with a hamstring problem. He returned to training last week and should be back in the squad at Molineux.