'Cannot play' - Enzo Maresca has warned why Champions League winner has to be careful at Chelsea

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is thrilled to have 2021 Champions League winner Reece James back for several reasons, but he has cautioned that the captain cannot play two games in a week. Maresca hinted that James would receive a similar treatment to Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia, who have been managed carefully upon their return from injury.

Both Lavia and Fofana are currently playing just one game a week, which led to their omission from the Europa Conference League squad. When asked about the need for a plan to ensure James successfully navigates his latest comeback attempt, Maresca explained: "It's complicated when you get injury after injury.

“It's not easy, so you are always looking for a solution. Probably the solution with Reece is the same as the one we are using with Romeo [Lavia] and Wes [Fofana]—playing them just once a week in one game. At this moment, for different reasons, Reece's body cannot handle playing twice a week. One of the solutions is probably to manage him in the same way we are managing Wes and Romeo."

There is still uncertainty about whether James will start or be involved in the next game, but his availability is undoubtedly a boost as Chelsea prepares for one of the toughest away fixtures of the season.

Additionally, Maresca has been named Manager of the Month, while the in-form Cole Palmer has been awarded Player of the Month. Overall, Chelsea has shown significant improvement from last season, which has brought them into the conversation as a potential top-four team.

However, Maresca faces some challenges with injuries, as left-back Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana remain sidelined. Renato Veiga and Tosin Aderabioyo are expected to step in to fill those gaps.