Chelsea have been handed a boost after Reece James returned to training following a spell out with illness and tightness in his leg muscles.
The 23-year-old joined the rest of the squad when they trained on Tuesday morning and is set to be available for Saturday’s game against Everton at Stamford Bridge.
James will then hope to be recalled to the England squad on Thursday after missing the World Cup in Qatar due to a knee injury.
But the defender has played less than half of Chelsea’s matches this season and the Blues wary of the need to manage him carefully during the run-in after the international break.
Mason Mount, who was not quite ready to return in Saturday’s 3-1 win away at Leicester, also trained with the Chelsea squad on Tuesday.
The midfielder has missed three consecutive matches for the first time in his Chelsea career due to a minor issue with his lower abdomen.
Chelsea could also welcome back N’Golo Kante against Everton after over six months out, though he will likely only feature from the bench.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is also closing in on a return from a broken finger.
