Reece James injury update as Enzo Maresca confirms double injury boost ahead of Heidenheim and Aston Villa

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that club captain Reece James has undergone a scan and is slowly improving, although he remains uncertain about when the defender will return to the team. James is facing another stint on the treatment table after suffering a muscle setback.

Speaking to the press ahead of the Europa Conference League game, Maresca provided an update on the situation and expressed optimism for his captain: "Yes, we cannot say exactly when he will return because we do not know how long the recovery time will be. He is getting better day by day. We are here waiting for him no rush."

When asked about the expected duration of the injury, the Chelsea manager added: "No, we do not know exactly, and that's why we cannot say how many days he will need. The only thing we can say is that he is getting better and better."

In more positive news, both Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto missed the game against Leicester over the weekend. Neto took a heavy knock on international duty, while Gusto was unwell.

Maresca confirmed that both players are back in the squad but emphasized that he would not risk them if they were not fully fit. He said, "They will train with us. We do not want to take any risks for tomorrow's game, but they should both be available for the weekend."

Chelsea are among the favorites to win the Europa Conference League, given the quality of their squad and their strong start to the season. It will be interesting to see how Maresca guides the team as they look to return among the top clubs in Europe, having invested heavily and already seeing the rewards with players like Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke excelling.