Chelsea receive Reece James boost but two players out injured until new year

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed Reece James is due back in team training on Saturday as he bids to return from his latest hamstring injury, but Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are out until 2025.

James has managed just four appearances in all competitions this season, having begun the season with a hamstring problem before picking up a fresh issue in late November which has kept him on the sidelines ever since.

The 25-year-old was recently spotted out running once again and Maresca confirmed in his latest pre-match press conference that he will step up his recovery by returning to partial training.

"Reece finally tomorrow will start with us for part of the session, so slowly, slowly, he will be back," the Italian said. "That doesn't mean he is going to be with us on Sunday or next Sunday. Just tomorrow.

"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 and then finally he can be back with us."

James' return to competitive match action still seems weeks away and that 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 neither player will be back before January.

Midfielder Romeo Lavia will face a late fitness test before Maresca makes a final decision on his availability, but Chelsea have no other injury issues as it stands. They are, however, without winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been provisionally suspended after failing a drugs test. Asked for an update on the case, Maresca simply responded: "No, nothing."

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