Mauricio Pochettino admits Chelsea ‘need to avoid risks’ with Reece James’ fitness after Blues captain made his first start since August following a hamstring injury

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is taking a ‘cautious’ approach with captain Reece James, who started a match for only the second time this season in the Blues’ 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Blackburn.

James, who is in the process of returning to full fitness after suffering a hamstring injury in August, played 61 minutes on Wednesday before being swapped for Malo Gusto.

Benoit Badiashile scored the opener in his first appearance this season, while Raheem Sterling added a second goal after the break to book the Blues a quarter-final against Newcastle.

Pochettino said: ‘The plan was to see at half-time how (James) felt, and after fifteen minutes he starts to feel tired and we check that from the second half, and we have to be careful how we deal with him.

“We decide to make the change because I think it is important now, the progression and being careful not to go back, sometimes you play ninety minutes and maybe take some risks, but we have to avoid this.

The Blues captain started for the first time since August in the 2-0 win over Blackburn in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening

“It is true that we cannot avoid risks 100 percent, but the plan is to do it little by little.”

Badiashile, who had not played for Chelsea since May, broke the deadlock after half an hour after Leopold Wahlstedt’s save came his way.

Both sides were unable to respond to referee Tim Robinson’s penalties before half-time, including a possible handball on Conor Gallagher that could have turned the momentum in the visitors’ favour, but Sterling’s shot from the top corner made it a comfortable second half for the hosts .

Blackburn had their chances – Harry Leonard shot wide just after the break and substitute Arnor Sigurdsson went close in stoppage time – but never looked close to a comeback in front of the 3,000 fans who had made the journey south.

Jon Dahl Tomasson was convinced his Rovers side should have been awarded a penalty but was pleased with how well his youthful side responded to their top opposition.

James, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, played 61 minutes before being sent off

The Danish boss, who believes cup football is ‘extremely important’, said: ‘It was a great challenge and I think our fans will be proud to see this young Rovers team play against a top team in Europe.

“The millionaires from the Premier League against the young players from the Championship and putting in a challenge and effort like this, I think the boys will learn a lot from this match.

“When you play at this level you have to make a decision quite quickly, the intensity is high, the decision-making has to be good and I actually thought we had great attacks on the ball as well.

“I’m sure this young group will get a lot out of this game.”