It is often said that the international break has come at a good time for clubs. Whether that be one in good form now afforded the chance to take a step back and gaze upon the landscape for two weeks, or if it is an out-of-sorts side in need of something different, the phrase is thrown about.

For Enzo Maresca, if the international break came at the best time it would have been a month ago and a month long.

Since they beat West Ham 2-1 on February 3, when Jackson was last seen, Chelsea have lost four of their eight games, winning the other four. The caveat here is that the victories came against Leicester City, Southampton, and Copenhagen in the Conference League.

They have crashed out of the FA Cup, progressed in Europe but with more questions than answers, whilst staying in the top four with increased angst over what is to come. In the toughest of their games - away to Aston Villa, Brighton (twice), and Arsenal - they have lost.

Madueke made it further than Jackson, managing until the half-hour mark of the second Brighton defeat in the space of six days.

Players are better when they aren't playing, another phase goes, and perhaps when Madueke and Jackson return they will be appreciated more.

There had been cries for Jackson to be dropped before his injury. His goalscoring form had dried up, much like Cole Palmer's has. Jackson was still getting chances, he just missed a lot of them. As for Madueke, put into a series of two-on-one situations, he had become much less of a threat compared to the early months of the campaign.

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Chelsea and Maresca now cannot wait to get them back. It is widely hoped that introducing them into this stale team will provide some much-needed spark. It won't be that easy but it will be an upgrade.

Pedro Neto has come out of the past four weeks with a lot of credit for his performances up front. They have been mostly in vain but they have been energetic and not one-dimensional like the rest of the team.

He will presumably be shifted back to the left wing when Madueke comes into his favoured right-side slot. Jackson will then go central with Nkunku and Sancho dropping out.

Palmer can keep his place as the most advanced midfielder/No.10 floating into the wide pockets. That is Chelsea's best front four at the moment and is full strength.

The same will be true of the midfield. . He provides balance to the team when fit and allows Maresca to be more fluid with Reece James at right-back.

Moises Caicedo has also played a full-back-to-centre-midfield role this season, inverting in-possession. James has done the same but he has been a relatively orthodox midfielder of late. Lavia coming back opens up these possibilities again and provides more cover for the backline.

The issue is that with a true midfield three, there is only room for three attackers unless someone drops out for Palmer to play deeper. That is what Maresca has favoured, opting to bring in Lavia for certain scenarios, protecting his body as well.

Enzo Fernandez has been perhaps Chelsea's Player of the Season and has come into his own when advancing the ball, crashing the box more regularly. Chelsea's £280million midfield has a lot of underlying issues still but when they are available they do tend to play.

That is the same for the defence. James has been fit for nearly four months straight which is the longest run in his career for more than three years. He has been partnered by Wesley Fofana again following his return from injury earlier this month.

With Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella holding the fort throughout the season on the left side, Chelsea's best back four on paper are finally playing together. When put with the return of Palmer from his knock and then Madueke, Jackson, and Lavia, the picture does look a better one for Maresca.

In goal and it is a coin toss. His mistake against Aston Villa was costly but does not come close to Sanchez's own blooper reel this season.

The goalkeeper will remain the weak link at Chelsea no matter who is available elsewhere. For the first time since early December, a fully fit squad could be on the cards after the break.

Maresca will need it to find form quickly as well. If Chelsea want to finish in the top five they will have to improve dramatically.

If Jackson, Madueke, and Fofana in particular can help to get results flowing as they did for two months leading up to Christmas then Chelsea will be in a good position. If it is the stunted and out-of-confidence displays from 2025 then even the boost of returning players might not be enough.

Chelsea's best XI after the international break: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer; Madueke, Jackson, Neto.