Reece James To Miss Chelsea's Match Against Leicester City Due To Hamstring Injury

Add as a preferred source on Google

Reece James is set to miss Chelsea's upcoming Premier League match against Leicester City due to a fresh hamstring injury. Enzo Maresca confirmed this setback, which adds to James' history of similar injuries. Last season, he appeared in 11 games before undergoing surgery aimed at resolving his recurring issues.

James returned to the field during Chelsea's 2-1 loss to Liverpool last month. He completed his first full match in 569 days against Newcastle United shortly after. However, this latest injury marks his eighth hamstring problem in four years, alongside other thigh, ankle, and muscle concerns.

Maresca downplayed fears of a prolonged absence but confirmed James would miss the game at King Power Stadium. "We have just one injured player and that's Reece," Maresca stated. "Unfortunately, he felt something small in training two days ago, and we don't want to take a risk for the weekend."

Since debuting in the 2019-20 season, James' most active period was the 2020-21 campaign. He played 47 matches as Chelsea secured the Champions League title that year. His longest streak of consecutive games was six in May 2021.

Despite limited playtime under Mauricio Pochettino last season, totalling just 482 minutes across all competitions, James has accumulated more Premier League minutes (6138) since the 2020-21 season than any other current Chelsea player. Enzo Fernandez follows with 4375 minutes since joining in January 2023.

Maresca expressed hope for James' quick recovery but acknowledged uncertainty about his return timeline. "It's a hamstring, muscular problem," Maresca explained. "We will see; we don't know for how long." He added that while it's unlikely James will be ready for the Conference League match next Thursday, they hope for his return soon.

This ongoing injury saga continues to challenge both James and Chelsea as they navigate through a demanding football calendar. The team remains hopeful that he will regain fitness swiftly and contribute significantly once more.