Reece James returns to full Chelsea training with Ben Chilwell and Mykhailo Mudryk

The defender has played just once since October, but is now looking toward another first-team return
Alex Young @alexwsyoung19 January 2023

Chelsea have been boosted by the return of Reece James to full first-team training, joining Ben Chilwell and new signing Mykhailo Mudryk in the group.

The defender has not played since lasting less than an hour of his comeback back against Bournemouth in December, which was his first game in 10 weeks after a knee injury.

It is very welcome news for Blues boss Graham Potter, who last week revealed James “was out on the grass, not training with the team but on his own”. On Wednesday, James further stepped up his rehabilitation.

Fellow full-back Chilwell was also on show at Cobham. As reported by Standard Sport last week, the left-back is the most likely from Chelsea's long injury list to return to first-team action soonest.

Edouard Mendy, Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana are all facing a few more weeks before they can make their respective comebacks. N’Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja are longer-term concerns.

Also on show for watching TV cameras was £88.5million January arrival Mudryk.

The winger looked set to become Arsenal's club-record signing until the Blues launched a successful 11th-hour hijacking of the deal, offering similiar terms to both club and player to win the transfer battle.

It is hoped Mudryk is in contention to make his debut against Liverpool this weekend, though has not played a competitive game since November.

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