Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Reece James will feature in Chelsea's starting lineup against Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup.
Since being named as club captain in the summer, James has endured yet another frustrating period, most of it spent on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
The defender started the first Premier League fixture of the season before being withdrawn due to fatigue, and he would remain absent until after the October international break.
James has since made successive substitute appearances in the games against Arsenal and Brentford, being introduced as a 67th-minute substitute in the latter.
As recently as last Friday, Pochettino was insisting that the academy graduate was not in the condition to start a match for the Blues.
Nevertheless, speaking at a press conference ahead of Wednesday's tie at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine has indicated that he now intends to start the England international.
Pochettino told reporters: "I can confirm he is going to start. I want to confirm only one player but it is good for the team, it is good for him to start from the beginning of the game."
Earlier in the media briefing, Pochettino indicated that he planned to name a strong XI for the meeting with the Championship outfit, albeit with a few different personnel.
He added: "I told you before. It is going to be really important for us. We are going to try and play with out best team.
"Maybe some players we need to rest because after Saturday we cannot take some risk."
With Chelsea not in action until the following Monday where they will square off against Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino said that he would not have one eye on that contest.
None of Chelsea's injured contingent will make a return versus Blackburn, Pochettino saying that Mykhaylo Mudryk had a chance to recover from a minor injury for the trip across the capital on November 6.
Chelsea and Blackburn - two former Premier League champions - will be squaring off for the first time since Rovers' relegation from the top flight in 2012. body check tags ::
