Chelsea captain Reece James has hinted at his return from injury ahead of their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side suffered their first defeat of the season against Fulham last time out, and if they aim to get back on track, an unforgiving fixture list is a significant challenge. Up next for Forest is Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, who have adapted quickly under their new manager and currently sit fourth in the table.
This success comes despite dealing with key injuries and players returning from long-term issues, particularly in defense. James remains the only senior player on the road to recovery; he has missed the entire season so far due to a persistent hamstring injury, limiting him to just 11 appearances last term.
However, the 24-year-old shared a series of photos on Instagram, providing a positive update: “Long story short, I’m doing well. Hope to see you soon.”
While it’s uncertain whether he will be ready to join the matchday squad at Stamford Bridge this weekend, Maresca has made it clear he won’t rush James back until he’s fully fit. “The most important thing is players come back when they are 100% fit,” Maresca stated, as reported by football.london. “Reece is still out. Unfortunately, we don’t have an idea at the moment [when he’ll be back]. In this case, he’s been very unlucky.”
Chelsea do have Malo Gusto fit and playing in the right-back position now, though he has only featured in two matches since returning, with his minutes carefully managed. This could present a potential opportunity for Callum Hudson-Odoi to exploit against his former club.
In addition, midfielder Romeo Lavia made his return last weekend against Brighton, getting just 12 minutes of action, while young prospect Omari Kellyman is expected to be sidelined until November with his own hamstring injury.
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