Enzo Maresca reaction to Reece James returning to Chelsea training speaks volumes

Reece James has returned to Chelsea team training for the first time in two months after recovering from yet another injury setback

Enzo Maresca couldn't hide his excitement after seeing Reece James return to team training on Monday.

The Chelsea right-back hasn't played a single minute so far this season, having picked up a hamstring injury in August. There was hope that James would be back last month, but reports suggested he suffered a setback in his recovery and has only just been able to return to training with his teammates.

James was pictured back on the grass with the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke, who has returned after playing for England over the international break. Chelsea shared some photos of their skipper getting down to work at their Cobham base, writing: "back in team training".

One image, posted by TNT Sports on Tuesday, displayed Maresca looking delighted and pleased to see James back in team training. The former Leicester boss has been yet to have James available for a competitive outing, having used him during pre-season. James had often been deployed as either as the right centre-back or at right-back with the license to drift in midfield and create an overload in that position.

Malo Gusto has impressed in his absence but Maresca is no doubt going to be thrilled to have someone with the quality and ability of James available again. The 24-year-old has played just 35 matches over the last two years - a spell in which hampered his run at cementing himself as one of the best defenders in the world.

After returning from a loan stint at Wigan, James was handed a chance to impress in the first-team by Frank Lampard and he took that opportunity with both hands. He featured 37 times in his maiden campaign at the Blues before helping them win the Champions League in his second senior campaign.

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