Reece James set to return this week in huge Chelsea injury boost ahead of Carabao Cup final against Liverpool
REECE JAMES is set to return to training this week in a huge boost for Chelsea ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
Thomas Tuchel’s world champions take on Liverpool at Wembley next weekend, looking to seal their fourth trophy under the German boss.
And the Blues are set for an injury boost with star defender James returning to Cobham tomorrow.
The England international, 22, has been transformed into a complete wing-back in Tuchel’s system.
And he netted four goals in 16 league games this term before suffering a hamstring injury in late December.
James has since missed 12 games for Chelsea, resulting in the Blues falling off the pace in the title race.
But after seven weeks on the sidelines, he will be training with the first team ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s win against Crystal Palace, Tuchel said: “He is still in individual training, progressing a lot, doing almost everything you can do in individual training and we are waiting for him.
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“The plan is he will rejoin the group next week. It is a long time now, we are speaking about seven weeks, eight weeks.
“I know that everybody in the physical department is doing an excellent job, so once he is in the team training we can rely upon that he did a lot and he is ready to be under a certain amount of pressure and of freedom of movement and acceleration.
“Otherwise they will not make him free for team training.”
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