James fit to return for Chelsea
Reece James will be available for Chelsea’s squad to face Liverpool this weekend, but Enzo Maresca has stressed the importance of managing his return to action.
Having recovered from the hamstring surgery which kept him out for most of the second half of last season, the club captain featured heavily in pre-season, only to suffer another hamstring injury.
James, who was also suspended for the first three Premier League games of the campaign, is yet to feature in a competitive match since Maresca took over as head coach.
That could change when Chelsea travel to title-chasing Liverpool, although two other key defenders are out through suspension.
Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana both picked up bookings in a feisty 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest last time out and will serve a one-match ban after receiving five yellow cards each in the early stages of the season.
With the Blues light in defence, James could return to the fold at Anfield.
“He’s available, finally he’s back. He worked with us all the international break. It’s good news, especially for him,” Maresca said.
However, the Italian insisted that James’ return must be handled properly.
“It’s always complicated when you get injured again,” he said.
“It’s not easy and you’re always looking for a solution. Probably, the solution for Reece is the same solution we’re using with Romeo [Lavia] and Wes [Fofana].
“Using them once a week, just one game. Reece’s body cannot play twice a week. We’re going to try to manage him.
“In this moment that can be the solution, but in the future I don’t know. If we want to build his physical condition, the solution is to go slow, use him once a week. In the future, we can use him more.”
Ben Chilwell, meanwhile, has recovered from illness and could start in place of Cucurella.
“Chilly is one of our players, but unfortunately he only joined the training session yesterday. The previous three, four days, he was ill and didn’t get any sessions,” said Maresca.
“We will see how he is today and tomorrow.”
