Chelsea’s Reece James Out With Another Hamstring Problem

Chelsea captain Reece James has suffered another setback after sustaining a hamstring injury during training, manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

The 24-year-old, who missed a significant portion of last season following hamstring surgery aimed at addressing recurring injuries, made his return to the pitch last month.

Maresca sought to ease fears of a prolonged absence but confirmed James will be unavailable for Saturday’s match against Leicester.

“We have only one injured player, and that’s Reece [James], who unfortunately felt a minor issue during training two days ago,” Maresca explained. “We don’t want to take any risks for the weekend.

“It’s a hamstring problem, a muscular issue. We’ll monitor it closely, but we’re unsure how long he’ll be out. Hopefully, he’ll regain full fitness soon. Unfortunately, he won’t be available this weekend, and it’s unlikely he’ll feature in the Conference League next Thursday, but we’re optimistic about a swift return.”

Meanwhile, players such as Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, and Romeo Lavia are fit and available, despite missing recent international duties.

However, Maresca expressed caution regarding Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, noting that the starting lineup may not be at “100%.” Both players returned from South America after international matches and will only complete one training session on Friday ahead of the game.