Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Reece James will return to team training on Saturday as he looks to return from his latest hamstring injury. injurybut Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are out until 2025.
James has managed just four appearances in all competitions this season, having started the season with a hamstring problem before picking up a new problem at the end of November which has kept him out ever since.
The 25-year-old was recently seen running once again and Maresca confirmed in his final pre-match press conference that he will speed up his recovery by returning to part-time training.
“Reece will finally start with us tomorrow for part of the session, so slowly, slowly, he will come back,” said the Italian. “That doesn't mean he'll be with us on Sunday or next Sunday. Only tomorrow.
“The plan for him tomorrow is to be with the team for part of the session and from there try to create the right conditions for him and finally he can come back with us.”
James' return to competitive action still seems weeks away and this is also the case for defenders Badiashile and Fofana.
“Both are still out and both will still be out for a long period,” Maresca said, before confirming that neither player will return before January.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia will face a late fitness test before Maresca makes a final decision on his availability, but Chelsea no other damage issues as is. However, they are without winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been is temporarily suspended after failing a drug test. Asked for an update on the case, Maresca simply replied, “No, nothing.”