Enzo Maresca explains Reece James Chelsea training absence amid injury fears

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has explained why Reece James was absent from Monday's training session ahead of their final Club World Cup group stage clash against ES Tunis.

The Blues need just a point to seal a spot in the next round but they can no longer finish as group winners following the 3-1 defeat to Flamengo last week and they may have to navigate the clash without James.

The Chelsea club captain has been plagued by injury issues over the last few seasons but thankfully that was not the reason for his absence on the training pitch.

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"Reece didn't train because he was ill," Maresca admitted during a press conference. "Levi Colwill was also ill, but he took part in the session."

As Colwill was still involved, Maresca will certainly be hopeful that he can feature against their Tunisian opponents. There is more doubt surrounding James however, with he and the suspended Nicolas Jackson absent from their final session.

Even if both are fit enough to be involved, Maresca has admitted there could be some rotation with some suspension concerns as an incentive to do that.

Marc Cucurella, James and Tosin Adarabioyo, Moises Caicedo, Pedro Neto and Liam Delap have all been shown one yellow card in the tournament thus far and another arriving will see them banned from featuring in a potential last-16 tie, as confirmed by FIFA rules.

"No player or official will carry a yellow card into the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Any player or official given a yellow card in two different games will miss their team's subsequent match.

"Yellow cards will be wiped after the quarter-finals. If, during the quarter-finals, a player or official is booked for the second match at the tournament, he will be suspended for the semi-final."

With two worries clear regarding James, it would make sense for Maresca to either leave him out of the squad or keep him on the bench. Andrey Santos could finally be handed some minutes with Caicedo at risk while Delap may play a limited role as Jackson serves a one-match ban.