Chelsea: Why Reece James was absent from matchday squad for FA Cup tie amid injury concern

Enzo Maresca has eased fears implicit Reece James’s lack from Chelsea’s FA Cup decision to Brighton, successful a uncommon affirmative connected a miserable nighttime for his side.

Given the full-back’s rotten wounded record, that instantly sparked interest among Chelsea supporters, with James having been plagued by fittingness problems for the champion past of 3 years.

However, speaking astatine full-time Maresca insisted his skipper was simply being rested to negociate his workload.

James had made lone 4 appearances this play by the crook of the year, having struggled with a bid of hamstring issues during the archetypal fractional of the campaign.

He made his latest comeback successful the erstwhile circular of the FA Cup against Morecambe and has featured successful each 4 of Chelsea’s Premier League games since, starting the past three.

“It was planned,” Maresca confirmed. “He is okay. He’s training. It was conscionable to support him a bit.”

Maresca was besides provided an update connected Nicolas Jackson’s condition, with the striker having besides sat retired the travel to the southbound seashore due to the fact that of a hamstring problem.

Jackson’s beingness up-front was sorely missed and portion the Chelsea brag believes his lack volition beryllium short-term, helium stopped abbreviated of confirming whether helium volition beryllium acceptable erstwhile the sides conscionable again successful the Premier League connected Friday.

“Sometimes I deliberation you request to play games without players to realise however important they are,” helium said. “We said galore times astir Nico, connected and disconnected the ball. Off the ball, his pressing is ever precise bully and connected the shot he’s a menace always.

“It wont beryllium agelong but we’ll spot if he’ll beryllium disposable for the adjacent game.”