Maresca explains why he took off James and Lavia at half-time and reason for Madueke absence | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca says it will take time for Reece James and Romeo Lavia to “build the right condition” after bringing them off at half-time against Morecambe.

Both players made their return to the Chelsea team for the FA Cup third round clash with Morecambe.

Tosin and Joao Felix both scored twice and Christopher Nkunku also netted as the Blues cruised to a 5-0 win to reach the fourth round.

James had not played for Chelsea since November after suffering another hamstring injury. Lavia, meanwhile, has been absent since last month’s game against Tottenham, also with a hamstring problem.

Both played 45 minutes against Morecambe before being taken off at half-time and explaining that decision, Maresca said: “For him and Romeo, it was just to protect them.

“The idea was to play 45 minutes and hopefully we can start from there and build their physical condition and allow them to be with us for the rest of the season.

“The idea is to slowly, slowly build the right condition. Especially probably for Reece, we have to be a little bit more careful.

“The good thing now is that they both played 45 minutes. Both finished well, not any problems, and hopefully now, as I said, we can start to help them and build the right condition.”

Winger Noni Madueke was absent from the squad for the FA Cup clash and Maresca explained that it was due to illness.

He said: “It was just because yesterday he did not finish the session because he was unwell. This is the reason why.”