With the FA Cup final just days away, Chelsea fans have been holding their breath over the fitness of two key attackers. Now, Calum McFarlane has offered a promising update on Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho, saying he is "very hopeful" both will be available for the Wembley showdown against Manchester City.

The Blues are chasing their first domestic trophy since Antonio Conte's 2018 triumph, and while they'll enter as underdogs against the Premier League champions, Chelsea have shown in knockout football that form can go out the window. A one-off final often brings out the best in the squad, and having their top wide men fit would be a massive boost.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool was a step in the right direction, with Levi Colwill making his first start since last summer's Club World Cup final. But the Blues were forced into a makeshift lineup due to a lack of senior wingers, leaving academy prospect Ryan Kavuma McQueen on the bench as the only natural wide option.

Neto and Garnacho have missed the last two matches, but with less than a week to go before the final, McFarlane struck an optimistic tone in an interview with Chelsea's official website. "Yeah, we're very hopeful," he said. "You have to take these things day by day. We're hoping that they'll be available, but you don't know at this moment in time. They're going to get back into training next week, see how they feel, see how it looks. So fingers crossed."

Their potential return couldn't come at a better time. Neto has been a standout with ten goals and eight assists in 49 appearances this season, while Garnacho has contributed eight goals and four assists in 41 outings. Having both available would give Chelsea the attacking threat they've sorely lacked in recent weeks.

As the countdown to kickoff continues, all eyes will be on the training ground. For now, the message from the camp is one of cautious optimism—and for Blues supporters, that's a welcome sign ahead of a cup final that could define their season.