Chelsea Handed Major Boost as Enzo Maresca Confirms Reece James Can Now Play Three Games a Week

Chelsea fans have often grown used to holding their breath whenever Reece James takes to the pitch. The club captain has endured a career interrupted by persistent hamstring and knee injuries, limiting his time on the field for both club and country. But Enzo Maresca has now given supporters a boost, insisting James is finally fit enough to handle the demands of a packed schedule.

The 25-year-old played a total of 137 minutes across England’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, starting in both matches. While that was encouraging for Gareth Southgate’s side, it did spark concern among Chelsea fans who feared such game time might rule him out of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford.

However, Maresca has moved to reassure the Blues faithful. “In the moment that any player joins the international team, it’s free to play the minutes that the manager thinks that he has to play, so it’s not in my hands,” the Chelsea boss said when asked about James’s workload under Southgate.

“When Reece is here, we try to manage him as much as we can. Since I joined the club I’m doing that with him, with Romeo [Lavia], with Wes [Fofana], with the ones that in the past had problems. But I think, now, Reece is showing that he’s quite fit to play two, three games in a week.”

For Chelsea, this is particularly welcome news. James has been one of the most influential players at the club in recent years when fit. His defensive solidity, coupled with his ability to drive forward and create chances, makes him a key part of Maresca’s plans. The challenge has always been keeping him consistently available.

The Blues are not short of cover, with Malo Gusto proving himself to be a reliable deputy at right-back. The French youngster has slotted into the team with confidence whenever James has been sidelined. Yet, if James can finally string together regular appearances, it would give Chelsea an extra edge — especially in the tougher fixtures where his leadership and experience are invaluable.

Asked directly if James is ready to start against Brentford, Maresca didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, he’s good,” he replied. That confidence reflects how carefully the club have managed the right-back’s recovery over the summer and into the new season.

For supporters, the thought of James being able to play multiple matches in the same week is almost a luxury. The England international has played fewer than 30 league matches in a season only once in his career, underlining how fitness problems have continually disrupted his progress.

Now, though, the signs appear positive. If James can continue on this path, Chelsea could finally enjoy a season with their captain leading the charge more consistently from the right flank. And for a manager like Maresca, having a player of James’s quality available week in, week out, could make a big difference as Chelsea look to climb higher up the Premier League table.