Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that Reece James is currently unable to play more than one match per week as the club aims to end his prolonged struggle with injuries.
James is set to make his first appearance of the season on Sunday against Liverpool, having already missed 11 games across all competitions. Over the past three seasons (2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24), he has been sidelined for a total of 83 matches.
While Chelsea fans are eager to see James return to peak form, Maresca has urged patience as the medical team carefully manages his comeback.
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“He is finally available,” Maresca said of James. “He worked with us during the international break, which is great news for him because being injured is tough. It’s a relief to have him back.
“It’s complicated when you face recurring injuries. Finding a solution is not easy.
“Right now, the best approach for Reece may be similar to what we are doing with Romeo [Lavia] and Wes [Fofana]—limiting them to one game per week. For various reasons, Reece’s body cannot handle playing twice a week at this moment. Managing him in this way could be beneficial, just like we’re doing with Wes and Romeo.”
This approach could potentially rule James out of any Conference League fixtures, and his participation in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup will also depend on the football calendar.
James’ return means Chelsea is in good health for the match against Liverpool; however, Maresca will have to cope without the suspended duo of Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana.