Enzo Maresca played down suggestions that Wilfred Ndidi should have been sent off for a nasty-looking tackle on Cole Palmer during Chelsea's 2-1 win over Leicester City.The Blues reinforced their place inside the Premier League's top three after goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez rendered Jordan Ayew's late consolation penalty irrelevant.

Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea did not put pressure on Cole Palmer to pull out of England duty this month, despite the midfielder making an immediate return to action for his club.

According the Premier League match panel, via TNT presenter Lynsey Hipgrave, the Ghana international escaped further punishment as the VAR noted he was only a short distance from Palmer when he launched into the tackle, while the challenge was also said to lack ‘intensity’.