Chelsea's Reece James is facing yet another setback in his injury-plagued career, as the club confirmed that the star defender will miss the upcoming Premier League clash against Leicester City this weekend due to a hamstring issue.
In a press conference on Thursday, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed the 24-year-old is dealing with a "small" muscular problem and will be sidelined for the trip to the King Power Stadium. Maresca, who is gearing up for his first return to Leicester since guiding them to Championship glory last season, was clear about the team's cautious approach regarding James' fitness.
“We have for sure just one injured player, that is Reece,” said Maresca. “Unfortunately, he felt something small, and we don’t want to take any risks for the weekend. Hopefully, it’s not something long-term."
The news is another blow for James, who has struggled with recurring hamstring injuries for the past few seasons. After a five-month layoff, James made his much-anticipated return to action on October 20 in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool. However, his body clearly wasn’t ready to cope with the demands of top-flight football.
James, who was appointed Chelsea captain earlier this season, played just 482 minutes of first-team football last year due to repeated injuries. In December 2023, he underwent surgery in a bid to solve his persistent muscle problems. Yet, just months later, he was forced to leave the field with another hamstring injury during Chelsea’s preseason tour of the United States.
Since returning, James has made several appearances, starting consecutive matches against Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester United, before playing the final eight minutes of Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Arsenal before the international break. Maresca had expressed concerns over James' ability to handle two matches in a week, revealing the club’s plan to ease him back into the first-team fold.
Despite the setback, Maresca was optimistic about the team's overall health. "There are some players better, some still a doubt, but Reece is the only one confirmed to be unavailable for the weekend," he added.
While James struggles to overcome his injury woes, Maresca himself is navigating his own emotional return to Leicester. After leading the Foxes to the Championship title and securing their promotion back to the Premier League, the Italian coach spoke fondly of his time at the club.
“I’m excited and thankful for my time at Leicester. It was a fantastic season with fantastic people. The connection between players and staff was incredible, and I still keep in touch with them,” said Maresca, who is now focused on lifting Chelsea, currently third in the Premier League, back to their former glory.
Chelsea will head into Saturday’s match against Leicester nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. The Foxes, meanwhile, sit in 15th place, just three points above the relegation zone.
