REECE JAMES may spend several weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s recent league match.
Chelsea FC head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed that the club captain picked up the injury in the closing stages of the 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United FC in the Premier League.
The right-back will definitely miss Chelsea’s upcoming UEFA Champions League home match against Paris Saint‑Germain FC after the London club lost the first leg 5-2 in France.
Rosenior explained that medical staff will assess the full extent of the injury after scans. However, the coach admitted the defender could remain unavailable for several weeks.
Injury Also Threatens England Call-Up
James’ injury could also affect his chances of representing the England national football team in the upcoming international matches.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel will soon announce his squad, but James now faces a race against time to regain fitness.
Rosenior highlighted the importance of the defender to the squad. He described James as a key leader and one of the most influential players in the dressing room.
Chelsea Face Multiple Injury Concerns
Chelsea currently deal with several injury issues across the squad.
The club will also miss winger Jamie Gittens, goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, and defender Levi Colwill.
However, Brazilian forward Estevao Willian has returned to training and could feature after recovering from an injury that kept him out since early February.
Meanwhile, right-back Malo Gusto missed training because of illness but still has a chance to play in the upcoming match.
Neto Cleared After Ball-Boy Incident
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto remains available for selection despite an incident during the first leg against PSG at Parc des Princes.
Officials reviewed the moment where Neto pushed a ball boy while trying to restart play quickly. The governing body UEFA issued only a warning.
Rosenior supported the decision and said the player simply wanted to speed up the game without any harmful intention.
Positive News Before Injury
Before the injury setback, James had enjoyed one of his most stable seasons in recent years.
The defender recently signed a new six-year contract with Chelsea, which will keep him at the club until 2032.
The club had carefully managed his fitness following several injury-affected seasons, making this latest setback especially frustrating for both the player and the team.
