Reece James’ injury misery continues, as the Chelsea star is anticipated to be out until at least February after suffering another hamstring injury.
The full-back started against Everton last Sunday for the first time since November 25 but could only last 26 minutes due to a fresh hamstring injury. According to reports, James will now consult a hamstring specialist to assess the extent of his latest injury setback. Given his recurrent hamstring problems, the recovery process may be complicated.
James has made eight Premier League appearances this season as he has had to sit out the bulk of the matches with another hamstring issue. He also missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to damage to his knee ligament. James has struggled to maintain a consistent run of matches due to various injuries, with his last stretch of five consecutive full games in the Premier League occurring between the end of the 2021-22 campaign and the start of the following season.
WHAT CHELSEA SAID
The London club put out a statement confirming the injury, which read: “Captain Reece James has undergone medical assessment following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton. The defender was withdrawn during the first half at Goodison Park, and scan results have confirmed a hamstring injury. Reece will now begin his rehabilitation programme at Cobham.”
James has missed 35 matches due to hamstring injuries since the 2021-22 campaign. Additionally, he has missed 28 matches due to muscle issues, illness, and two knee injuries, with the latter sidelining him for 18 matches in the 2022-23 season.
Pochettino’s injury list keeps on growing with Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Trevor Chalobah, Malo Gusto and Carney Chukwuemeka already on the treatment table. This forced the manager to ask for more new players in the January transfer window, despite the club already having spent £435 million ($545m) in the summer on signings.
Chelsea are looking forward to a busy two-week stretch as they will play five matches until the New Year and James’ injury further adds to their trouble. They will next face Sheffield United on December 16, before they take on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
