McFarlane Reveals Reece James and Levi Colwill Return to Training

Chelsea have received a massive fitness boost to their defensive line, with Reece James and Levi Colwill returning to first-team training. Interim head coach Calum McFarlane revealed this update on the duo during his press conference ahead of the Blues’ upcoming Premier League game against Nottingham Forest on May 4.

Their return to full fitness is something of a big deal for Chelsea, who have missed their captain in recent weeks, and their best defender for all of the season. However, it doesn’t seem likely that Colwill can feature in a serious match just yet. He has been eased back gradually, notably partaking in an Under-21 game, where he played all 90 minutes. Meanwhile, James has endured his 10th hamstring injury since 2020, crushing his hopes in playing regularly after he just signed a new six-year contract.

Still, despite all the careful rehabilitation the duo had to go through, there was something of relief on McFarlane’s face as the interim boss told the press:

“Yeah, we’ve got Reece back in training, Levi is back in training, both looking good. A little bit away to the game, so we’ll see how they do day by day, but both are looking promising.”

It is unlikely that either player will start against Nottingham Forest, with McFarlane insisting on managing expectations. While James could potentially come on as a substitute, Colwill may have to wait a little longer to get some first-team playing time.

Chelsea Have Endured Defensive Woes All Season

The news of James and Colwill returning to training will give many a Stamford Bridge faithful reason for good cheer as we turn to the final weeks of the season. The Blues have seen their defensive setup regularly disrupted with injury troubles, after Colwill ruptured his ACL in training during the pre-season.

Going the season without their defensive stalwart has seen the Blues concede 45 goals in 34 Premier League games. It’s a harsh difference from the previous season, where Colwill’s impact was seen, as the Blues conceded just 43 goals across 38 games, while finishing fourth.

More recently, Chelsea have lost five games in a row in the league, falling from Champions League spots into eighth place. If they fail to win against Nottingham Forest, the Blues could find themselves stuck firmly in midtable obscurity.