James ‘a week to 10 days’ from return

Reece James is likely to be fit again in about a week, according to Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.

The right-back missed the early part of the season with an ankle injury which required surgery.

He has recently been nursing a problem with the same ankle and Lampard admitted: “It was a bit of a worry.”

But fears James is set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines have been allayed and Lampard has indicated that the youngster could be available by the time Chelsea play Burnley on 11 January.

Lampard said: “It’ll be a week or 10 days. He’s had a bit of a niggle around his ankle injury which he (previously) had surgery on in pre-season.”

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