Chelsea captain Reece James has overcome illness and returns to the matchday squad for this evening’s FA Cup tie at Hull City.
James missed Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Leeds after falling unwell, and that was after he had also sat out of Chelsea’s previous two matches with a knock.
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However, the defender is available for selection again and is handed an immediate recall by Blues head coach Liam Rosenior.
It is too early to determine the severity of the hamstring injury that forced Marc Cucurella off at half-time against Leeds but he will not be involved against Hull.
“Marc is too early to know,” Rosenior said at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“Obviously, he is definitely out for the game against Hull. We’re doing our scans and assessments.”
Rosenior, as expected, has decided to ring the changes with his team selection to face the club he has represented as both a player and a manager.
Liam Delap, Pedro Neto, Jorrel Hato, and Alejandro Garnacho all come into the team that started the 2-2 draw with Leeds in midweek.
Regular starters such as Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez are handed a rest, but Rosenior has opted against taking Robert Sanchez out of goal.
There is a first appearance for Mamadou Sarr since the Senegal international was recalled from his loan at Strasbourg. He starts in central defence alongside Wesley Fofana as Trevoh Chalobah is rested.
Confirmed team news
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Sarr, Hato; Caicedo, Andrey Santos; Neto, Estevao Willian, Garnacho; Delap
Substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Gusto, Tosin, Badiashile, Fernandez, Derry, Joao Pedro, Mhueka
