Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Reece James may be available for this weekend's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.

The Blues captain has been sidelined after suffering a repeated hamstring injury in the 2-0 defeat to Everton in December. After having surgery on the problem, he is now in contention to make his return to action before the season finishes.

On Friday, Chelsea confirmed in their weekly injury update that the right-back was back in team training ahead of Saturday's trip to Nottingham Forest.

Pochettino was then asked about the England international's chances of being named in the squad in his pre-match press conference. "We need to see today but maybe he can be available in the squad, yes," he confirmed.

James' return will be a huge boost for Chelsea in their final three games of the season. After a poor showing for the majority of the campaign, the Blues have turned their form around in recent weeks and find themselves seventh in the Premier League table.

Ahead of Manchester United on goal difference, Pochettino's men will most likely qualify for the Europa Conference League with a seventh-placed finish. Should they overtake Newcastle, currently two points clear, in sixth then they will most likely compete in the Europa League, depending on the outcome of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United.

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Malo Gusto has been the perfect deputy to James this season in his first year at the club. However, James' imminent return to fitness gives Pochettino one less injury concern to contend with for the remainder of the season.

Should he not be named in the squad in Nottingham on Saturday, next week's trip to Brighton or the final game of the season against Bournemouth could see him make his long-awaited return.