were handed a major fitness boost this week ahead of the Premier League clash against Liverpool.
returned to training on Monday after recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him on the sidelines for the first two months of the season.
James was part of pre-season tour of the United States, but suffered another fitness setback before the start of the Premier League campaign which has led to the club captain yet to make an appearance under manager Enzo Maresca.
The right-back was on Monday, with Chelsea set to face Liverpool on Sunday in their first Premier League fixture after the international break.
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It remains to be seen if James will be handed a start for the Blues at the weekend, but a long-awaited return to the matchday squad may be possible.
Malo Gusto has been Maresca's starting right-back amid James' injury. A return for the Chelsea captain would see valuable competition in the position for the Blues head coach going forward.
Should James return to the travelling Chelsea squad for the clash against Liverpool, it would see Maresca move a step closer to having his dream squad available.
Two players who will not be involved, though, will be Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucarella, who are both ruled out for the trip to Anfield with a one-match suspension for amassing five yellow cards.
Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke were both injury doubts after the draw with Nottingham Forest before the international break.
The duo went on to feature for England over the last week and look set to return to Chelsea to be part of Maresca's matchday squad.
Carney Chukwuemeka has also missed Chelsea's previous two matches against Gent and Forest through illness but will hope to return to the squad to face Liverpool this weekend. Omari Kellyman, meanwhile, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
