Chelsea defender Reece James has been ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League match against Leicester City due to a hamstring injury, according to manager Enzo Maresca.
This is yet another setback for the 25-year-old England international, who has battled injuries for the past two years.
“We have, for sure, just one injured player and that is Reece,” Maresca said in a press conference on Thursday. “Unfortunately, he felt something small and we do not want to take a risk with him at the weekend.”
James’ injury woes began in 2022 when he missed the World Cup due to a knee injury. Later that year, he underwent surgery for a recurring hamstring problem.
Since December 2022, James has only managed to make 18 starts for Chelsea, hindering his development as a player once considered one of England’s most exciting prospects.
This season, he has featured in just three starting lineups.
Maresca, however, remains optimistic.
He is currently evaluating the fitness of several players who did not participate in the recent international break, including Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill, who withdrew from England’s UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and Ireland.
