Enzo Maresca during Chelsea's clash against Liverpool(Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca explains shock Reece James decision as Chelsea given major Liverpool boost

Reece James has started a Premier League game for the first time since December 2023, when he suffered a hamstring injury against Everton

20 Oct 2024, 15:51 by Jake Stokes · football.london

Enzo Maresca has explained why he decided to start Reece James for Chelsea against Liverpool. The 24-year-old defender, who's only recently returned to first-team training, missed the start of the season due to suspension; he was shown a red card in the penultimate game of last term.

Then, just shortly before James was expected to make his first competitive appearance for Enzo Maresca, he picked up another knock. Now, for the first time since December 2023, the England international has started a Premier League game.

In an interview with Sky Sports ahead of Chelsea's clash against Liverpool at Anfield, the Blues boss was asked why he threw James straight back into the starting lineup without any minutes in the tank. Maresca said: "It was quite easy actually.

"He's our captain and we want him in the team. He's used to playing in these kinds of games, the big matches and with [Marc] Cucurella out it means there is a good opportunity for him to come in."

Then, on Romeo Lavia, who hasn't started in the English top flight since the opening day of season, Maresca added: "He is in a similar situation to Reece where he has been training well and now just needs to get fitter by playing more games. For sure, he's going to impress."

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Maresca was delighted to announce James' return. He said: "He worked with us over the international break. It's good news, especially for him because being injured is not a good feeling. Finally, he is back."

The Italian added: "It's complicated when you get injury, injury, injury again. It's not easy so you are always looking for a solution. Probably the solution with Reece is the same solution we are using with Romeo [Lavia] and Wes [Fofana] in terms of using them just once a week, in one game, because probably in this moment, for different reasons, Reece's body cannot play twice a week. One of the solutions is probably to try and manage him in the same way we are doing with Wes and Romeo."

When pushed on James' fitness, Maresca said: "In this moment, this can be the solution. In the future, I don't know. But if we want to build something with him in terms of physical condition, then probably the solution is to allow him to go slowly and use him once a week and then hopefully in the future we can use him more during the week. In this moment, we need to think to use him once a week."

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