Reece James targets Chelsea return in Premier League after Club World Cup in huge boost after illness
REECE JAMES is targeting Chelsea’s next league game to make his long-awaited return to action.
The right-back has been out of action since late December after suffering a hamstring injury against Brighton.
A heavy bout of flu then delayed the England international’s recovery further.
But the 22-year-old is nearing full fitness and reckons he’ll be ready for the trip to Crystal Palace a week on Saturday.
James has been hard at work out in Abu Dhabi as his Blues team-mates compete there in the Club World Cup.
A return for the final against Palmeiras tomorrow looks set to be a bridge too far.
But the flying full-back did give fans a glimpse of the lengths he’s going to in order to be fit to face Palace.
He shared a snap of himself on his Instagram account sweating buckets after training in 25C heat.
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And he captioned it: “Another session… One step closer.”
Chelsea have been feeling the effects of losing James and his England team-mate Ben Chilwell on the flanks.
Left-back Chilwell is out for the season with a serious knee injury picked up against Juventus in November.
Both will be desperate to be fit for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for this year’s Qatar World Cup.
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