Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has explained why captain Reece James was not in the matchday squad for the game against Brighton at the weekend.

Concerns were raised when the 25-year-old was not even named among the substitutes for the FA Cup tie at the Amex but, speaking about the defender’s absence, Maresca said that he had been left out to manage to his minutes:

“It was planned. He is okay. He’s training. It was just to protect him a bit.”

James had started Chelsea’s three fixtures against Wolves, Manchester City and West Ham prior to the game on Saturday evening.

Keeping the Chelsea star fit is the priority

There is no doubt that Maresca could have risked James against Brighton if he had to but, with Malo Gusto available, there was no real need to put in him.

James has been beset with hamstring injuries in recent years but he has been fit and available for about six weeks now, having returned to the bench for the 2-0 defeat to Ipswich Town at the end of December.

It may not be saying much but it is the longest that the fullback has gone without sustaining a setback for a considerable period of time. Protecting James by not picking him at the weekend could prove beneficial in the long run.

James’ fitness record

To say that the right-back is injury-prone would be an understatement. Since 2019, he has picked up 21 separate injuries, keeping him on the sidelines for 749 days in total. That is almost exactly two years lying on the treatment table.

Fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that James’ luck with injuries improves and he can stay on the pitch for the rest of this season.

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