Chelsea and interim head coach, Calum McFarlane, have been handed a massive boost by the return to training of two crucial first team players
On Monday afternoon, at 15:00 BST, Chelsea will take on Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge as they desperately attempt to resurrect their attempts to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
It is a lesser spotted kick off time. In fact, it is only the fifth time in Premier League history (since 1992), that a game has kicked off at that time on a Bank Holiday Monday. But, here we are.
Ahead of the game, Calum McFarlane spoke to the media at 13:30 BST. He answered plenty of the usual questions, but there were a couple of things in particular that stood out.
Indeed, as he confirmed that Reece James has returned to training. The skipper has been out with a hamstring injury since the home defeat to Newcastle United back on the 14th of March, around seven weeks ago now.
There will be absolutely no rush to bring James back, particularly with his injury history, but, if Chelsea are able to count on him for the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on the 16th of May, it would be an absolutely huge, huge boost for the team's chances of winning the trophy for the first time since 2018.
Meanwhile, in further good news, McFarlane confirmed that fellow Cobham defender, Levi Colwill, is also training with the team. The 22-year old has trained a couple of times since his ACL injury, and also featured for the U21s recently.
However, there has been a development in his progress. Indeed, as during his press conference, the interim manager confirmed that both Colwill and James cannot be ruled out of being in the match day squad against Forest on Monday.
It would be quite fitting for the former to be in the squad in particular. Last season, he scored the sole goal of the game away to Forest to secure Champions League football for this season, albeit that was the reverse fixture.
Nevertheless, it is important that neither player are rushed back. If both players are (potentially) able of making a match day squad on the 4th of May, that would bode well for the FA Cup final 12 days later - albeit with Colwill you have to be especially careful after such a long term injury.
Well, we will have to wait and see. McFarlane said himself that they are taking it day by day. But this is certainly a very encouraging update.
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