Chelsea captain Reece James has been dealt another injury blow, as manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the 24-year-old will miss the Blues’ Premier League clash against Leicester City on Saturday due to a hamstring issue sustained in training.
James, who only recently returned to action after undergoing hamstring surgery last season, experienced a “small” problem during training earlier this week. While Maresca downplayed fears of a lengthy absence, he admitted caution would be exercised to prevent aggravating the injury.
“We have just one injured player and that’s Reece,” Maresca said. “Unfortunately, he felt something small in training two days ago, and we don’t want to take a risk for the weekend. It’s a muscular problem, a hamstring issue.
“We will see. At the moment, it’s probably difficult for him to be ready for the Conference League next Thursday, but hopefully, he will be back soon.”
The injury is the latest in a string of setbacks for James, who endured a frustrating 2022/23 season marred by fitness issues. The Chelsea captain underwent surgery in an attempt to resolve chronic hamstring problems but has struggled to maintain full fitness since.
Despite his absence, Maresca will have several key players available, including Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, and Romeo Lavia, all of whom missed international duty but have recovered in time for the trip to Leicester.
Maresca also highlighted concerns about players returning from international duty, particularly those traveling from South America. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez only returned to training on Friday and are unlikely to be at full fitness for Saturday’s game.
“The team will not be at 100%,” Maresca admitted. “The players who traveled long distances have only had one training session. We’ll assess them carefully before making decisions.”
James’ absence is a significant blow for Chelsea as they aim to build momentum after a mixed start to the season. The Blues will need to rely on depth in their squad, with Malo Gusto likely to step in at right-back during James’ recovery.
Chelsea currently sit mid-table in the Premier League and are looking to secure a vital win against Leicester as the season progresses. Balancing league commitments with their UEFA Conference League campaign adds to the challenge, especially with the ongoing injury concerns surrounding their captain.
For James, the focus remains on regaining full fitness, with fans hoping his latest setback is a minor one in his journey back to peak form.
