Graham Potter confirms Chelsea defender’s status for Leicester City clash

Chelsea boss Graham Potter confirms that Reece James is out of the Leicester City clash

Speaking to the media (h/t Football.London), Chelsea boss Graham Potter confirms that Reece James is one of the few players who will miss the Leicester City clash.

Along with James, striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to miss the game, while Raheem Sterling is a doubt because of a tight hamstring.

N’Golo Kante is back in training but would not be available this weekend. Thiago Silva is a long-term absentee since picking up an injury against Tottenham Hotspur.

Here’s what Potter said when asked about the team news (h/t Football.London):

“Reece [James] has been ill so hasn’t trained today. He won’t make the game tomorrow. Raheem [Sterling] has had a little feeling in his hamstring, tightness if anything, so he’s looking doubtful. [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang has a slight problem with his back and he’s looking likely he will miss the game.

“He [Kante] won’t be – still needs more time to build up. We aiming maybe for Everton. Unfortunately, not for tomorrow.”

It is a shame to lose James for another game after having missed him for large parts of this season. Sterling scored against Dortmund and looked in great form. Him missing the Leicester game would be a body blow. Although Christian Pulisic or Mykhaylo Mudryk would be looking forward to playing, should the Englishman remain unavailable.

After two wins in the last week, the pressure seems to have lifted over the shoulders of the team to an extent. But, another negative result and we will be back to square one.

For that reason, this Leicester game is huge. A win at the King Power Stadium will show that beating Borussia Dortmund and Leeds United wasn’t just a flash in the pan. It would also continue to grow the confidence of the players.

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Chelsea are 10th in the league with very little chance to even finish sixth, let alone fourth. However, they have to start winning the games and put points on the board. They have to keep up with the momentum that can be used when the quarter-final of the Champions League arrives.