Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has suggested that he may be "crazy enough" to hand a start to Reece James for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Liverpool.
Having spent two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, James is back in team training ahead of the Wembley showpiece.
While a place on the substitutes' bench appears more likely, Tuchel says that the right wing-back looks "so strong" in training, putting him in contention for a surprise appearance in the first XI.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Tuchel said: "He looked brilliant in the last two training sessions. Let's wait another session and let's see if I am crazy enough to just put him on the pitch or if the reasonable side of me wins in the end.
"It would be a huge step but honestly, yesterday and today he looked so strong, so confident, and so involved in training that you are tempted to do it."
James had not featured since going off during the first half of the Premier League fixture with Brighton & Hove Albion on December 29.
Darren Plant
