Reece James Injury Nightmare Continues As Chelsea Reveal Return Date

Following a new hamstring injury, Reece James, Chelsea’s right back, is projected to miss at least two months of play due to his ongoing injury nightmare.

The full-back only managed to play 26 minutes against Everton on Sunday despite getting his first start since November 25 due to a new hamstring issue. According to reports, James will now consult a hamstring specialist to assess the extent of his latest injury setback. Given his recurrent hamstring problems, there is a realisation that the recovery process might be complex.

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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.

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 The defender was withdrawn during the first half at Goodison Park, and scan results have confirmed a hamstring injury.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. In addition, he has missed 28 games because of illness, knee problems, and muscular problems; the latter prevented him from playing for 18 games in the 2022–2023 season.

Pochettino has a long list of injured players, including Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Trevor Chalobah, Malo Gusto, and Carney Chukwuemeka. This made the manager request additional players during the January transfer window, even though the team had already paid £435 million ($545 million) for acquisitions during the summer.

Chelsea has five games left until the New Year, so they are in for a hectic two weeks. James’ injury just makes matters worse. They’ll play Sheffield United the following day, December 16, and then they’ll play Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.