Reece James will start his first match for Chelsea in almost three months when they take on Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
The Blues captain has not started for the Blues since the season opener against Liverpool, with his return to action constituting of two cameos off the bench against Arsenal, where he played six minutes, and Brentford, where he got 23 minutes.
But boss Mauricio Pochettino, while keen to keep most of his team secret, was thrilled to confirm James would feature from the off.
'I can confirm he is going to start,' Pochettino said.
'The captain is ready. It's good for the team, it's good for him to start from the beginning. We can see after, checking always how he is performing.'
Pochettino and Chelsea are enduring a tough season to date and defeat at home to Brentford leaves them slumped 11th in the Premier League.
But Wednesday night's visit from Championship opposition means they have a strong chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, something Pochettino is not ready to overlook.
'I told you before, at the start of the season, a competition like the Carabao Cup or FA Cup is really important for us,' he said.
'Tomorrow, we will try to play with our best team. Some players we will need to rest because after Saturday's game we can't take risks. But in general, we will try to play our best team.
'All the players need to be ready to play tomorrow, and then we will decide. We are going to take it very seriously because we want to go far. This is a competition we can go through in.'
He added: 'It's important for us to go forward in this competition, to build momentum, and after go to Tottenham and receive Manchester City with the trust and the confidence we can beat them also.'
One player who will not be involved is Ben Chilwell, with the injured left back over in Los Angeles.
Pochettino revealed that a change of scene was always part of 'the plan' as the full-back rehabs a hamstring injury that is set to keep him out until December.
'The plan was to change the scenario for him,' Pochettino added.
'That happens in different clubs. When it's a long period of recovery, sometimes we change the scenarios for them.
'Twelve hours here every day, it's a fantastic training ground, but sometimes the player needs to change the atmosphere and the scenario to keep their recovery in a good way. It's still difficult to know when he will be back.'
mozadesty
0
we are tired of being beaten everyday
sultanjr_w13
0
Antoni Conte will only save Chelsea from this shame
cizceikruy
0
Why people are so full of evil wishing someone you don’t even know bad what of those one that is doing well in life you know that means you will kill or poison the person
It's the truth I am not wishing him bad, but that boy is done with injuries just like Hazard
Johnmechediez2018
0
He is not gonna last 90 min, back to default stretcher bed
Why people are so full of evil wishing someone you don’t even know bad what of those one that is doing well in life you know that means you will kill or poison the person
Single-Bone
1
Injury loading. If he gets through this game just give him 2 more games and he's out again.
fuhaloptyz
0
for sure to day maatsen gonna get a chance over cuc
DcChampion007
2
Sanchez and Jackson be benched .. Washington should start ahead of him
MaddyKotagiri
0
Sanchez was not even a second choice at Brighton, Chelsea signed him for 7 year contract. Still I didn’t get the thought process of his signing!!
Wancou
1
Happy for him to start this game, not sure abt the next few games though, he might get injured again somehow, Sanchez is not going cut it, jackson can be given a chance though, he needs a season to get going then u will see the next drogba
cizceikruy
1
He is not gonna last 90 min, back to default stretcher bed
betdelnopr
3
stupid coach and keeper 🙄
yuocdeknrs
2
one other thing Don't start Sanchez and jackson
tehbinuy
1
this guy is glass I don't think starting him is good idea because he can't play 50mins. let start using him as sub
Motdilpuyz
0
Three Rings to my left I feel like King James
HezekiahAlakiri
0
WITH OUR CAP WE will WIN any body
Yeudlnotu
1
you seles good players and now you want to win how?
heybdkortz
0
fake coach
Teekaybaba
1
This is the Chelsea I know not all this yahoo boys who Can’t even score one goals. Especially our so call striker. Please we want to see if Jackson is even scoring goals in training at all. We wan check something please 🙏. Send us the video
vadadkpsy
1
Sanchez have no problem
Tucbkmrst
1
leave Sanchez alone,teach those stupid strikers to score goals and the coach is useless also
zeoabmnouz
4
We want Broja ,,Jackson is useless, Chelsea will never win trophies with Jackson
luydknorsy
2
drop first choice keeper sanchaz and use petrovic please ,james welcome back 🤝👍💪💙💙💙💙💙
Pabackot
1
Sanchez and Jackson don’t deserve to wear a Chelsea shirt, they are useless.
Pabackot
2
Stop using Sanchez he is destroying Chelsea
hincrsyz
1
If we go forward in cup games. And we drew one big match or losses with small margin (0-1or 0-2) then surely this will be good for Chelsea.
Firedragon147
0
And Chelsea will still Chelsea
OBAINOTENTEN
0
Sanchez is useless please don't use him at any cost not even on the bench
I swear I don't even know if the coach will just listen to us self he should bench Sanchez and Jackson
danriwbik
2
Big injury prone
saedisyz
1
Stop using Sanchez he don't even deserve to be a second choice not even third choice he's useless
pasacdkops
0
Sanchez is useless please don't use him at any cost not even on the bench
He's tall for nothing
misabcdenp
2
Stupid player
saedisyz
2
Sanchez is useless please don't use him at any cost not even on the bench