December 20, (THEWILL) – Chelsea right-back Reece James will return to partial team training on Saturday following his latest hamstring injury setback, manager Enzo Maresca confirmed.
The 25-year-old defender, who has made just four appearances this season, will begin a gradual reintegration process with the squad.
The club’s medical staff will monitor James carefully, with Maresca emphasising that the England international’s return to competitive action remains several weeks away.
“The plan for him tomorrow is to be with the team for part of the session and from there to try to build the right condition for him,” Maresca stated during Friday’s press conference.
The situation looks more challenging for defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, who will both remain sidelined until 2025.
Maresca confirmed their extended absence, stating simply that “both are still out and both will still be out for a long period.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Romeo Lavia faces a late fitness assessment before the weekend’s match.
The club is also dealing with the temporary suspension of winger Mykhailo Mudryk following a failed drug test, though Maresca offered no additional information on this matter when questioned.
These injury updates come at a crucial time for Chelsea, who are genuine title contenders based on their current form and their position in the English Premier League table.
The return of James, when fully fit, could provide a significant boost to the team’s defensive options, though the club will need to manage his recovery carefully given his history of hamstring issues.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
