Man United will be eyeing a rare Premier League victory when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday night.
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Enzo Maresca speaks to the media at his pre-match press conference.
Enzo Maresca has previewed his side's clash with Manchester United.
(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images.)
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed captain Reece James will be available for Friday night's Premier League clash with Manchester United.
The England international had emerged as a doubt for the clash with Ruben Amorim's side in the capital after missing two training sessions through illness.
However he trained on Wednesday and is set to be part of Maresca's plans.
Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Maresca said: "Reece James is now okay, he was out with illness for two [training] sessions. Yesterday he had a session with us, which is good."
However, the Blues chief will be light on firepower at the top end of the pitch after Nicolas Jackson was sent-off in last Sunday's 2-0 defeat Newcastle United. He was shown a straight red card not long before half-time after a needless forearm smash on Newcastle defender Sven Botman.
With Christopher Nkunku still out injured, Maresca has admitted he is light on options to spearhead his team's attack.
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"We don't have Nico for this game and we are working on that," Maresca continued. "These are the options we have, unfortunately we don't have many options [to play as a striker]."
The Chelsea chief has also addressed how he and his team plan to approach the game, pointing to the task of coming up against a United team that will feature three centre-backs and two wing-backs.
He added: "When playing against a line of five, I prefer to have a 'real' nine because you need to attack behind, you need that threat.
"Unfortunately, we don't have that so we need to find a solution. I like a 'false' nine when we face a line of four, because you can link a little more.
"But against five defenders, you need people running in behind. But it is what it is, and we need to find a different solution."
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