Chelsea’s Reece James faces an extended period on the sidelines, with his injury woes persisting as a fresh hamstring setback is anticipated to keep him out of action until at least February.
Despite being given a starting role against Everton last Sunday, marking his return since November 25, the full-back could only manage 26 minutes before suffering the new injury.
According to Fabrizio Romano, a March return seems more likely for James, and even a comeback in February is viewed as an optimistic scenario given the complexities of his recurrent hamstring issues.
In the current season, the 24-year-old has featured in just eight Premier League matches, having missed several games due to a prior hamstring problem. Additionally, he was absent from England’s 2022 World Cup quarterfinal campaign in Qatar due to knee ligament damage.
James has faced challenges establishing a consistent rhythm on the field due to various injuries.
His last stretch of five consecutive full Premier League games occurred between the conclusion of the 2021–22 season and the commencement of the subsequent season.
Reece James has faced a considerable absence from the pitch, missing 35 matches due to hamstring injuries since the 2021–22 campaign.
In addition to these setbacks, he has been sidelined for 28 matches due to various issues, including muscle problems, illness, and two knee injuries, with the latter causing an 18-match absence during the 2022–23 season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s injury concerns are escalating, with Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Trevor Chalobah, Malo Gusto, and Carney Chukwuemeka already receiving treatment.
This has prompted the manager to seek additional reinforcements in the January transfer window, despite the club’s substantial summer spending of £435 million ($545 million) on new signings.
Chelsea faces a demanding two-week period with five matches scheduled until the New Year, and James’ injury compounds their challenges after slipping to 12th in the Premier League table.
Their upcoming fixtures include a clash against Sheffield United on December 16 and a Carabao Cup quarterfinal match against Newcastle United.