Noni Madueke will not travel with the Chelsea squad to Kazakhstan to face FC Astana in the Conference League, head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

The 22-year-old, who came on as a substitute in Sunday’s 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, has traveled to all four of Chelsea’s Conference League games against KAA Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah and 1. FC Heidenheim, but he was an unused substitute every time.

Chelsea have all but guaranteed a place in the round of 16 after winning all four of their league stage games and a win over Astana will secure their place in the knockout stages.

But a long flight awaits Chelsea. Maresca’s crew has an eight-hour flight ahead of them before arriving in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to place Astana. The team will take to the Almaty Ortalyk Stadium on Thursday in freezing conditions.

Chelsea’s key players, including Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Jadon Sancho, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer (ineligible), will all remain at their training base in Cobham to prepare for Sunday’s Premier League game against Brentford.

READ MORE: Chelsea’s travel plans for Astana game revealed as UEFA grants exemption for Conference League

Madueke will join the players remaining in England, Maresca announced. The England international is pushing for a start against the Bees after Pedro Neto served a one-match ban which will be served this weekend.

“He will stay, yes,” Maresca confirmed his plans for Madueke. “Would you like to know the first eleven for (Thursday) and Sunday (laughs)? We have a meeting at 10 a.m. and more or less the general decision is already made, but after the meeting we will see.”

One Chelsea player traveling is Axel Disasi, who has been a regular for the Blues’ cup teams this season. He believes the division and rotation of the squad is positive and insists Maresca should continue to be “smart” in his selection decisions, just as he does with players like Madueke.

“As players, as competitors, we enjoy playing every game. But sometimes we have to be clever. We have a big squad. When you have the opportunity to play, you have to perform and show your quality. “We did that well.”

He added: “You just have to dress up and be ready to compete in these conditions. We know the conditions of these games – eight hours of flight and minus 11 (temperatures). (I’m going to) download some movies to watch. “Plane, be ready, put on two gloves and compete.”

Mykhailo Mudryk was ill and was unable to take part in training on Wednesday morning. Marc Guiu should start in attack for Chelsea in Almaty.