Chelsea first XI star sidelined from pre-season thanks to fitness setback

Reece James will join Chelsea for pre-season games once he recovers from illness

According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea flew to the USA yesterday for pre-season games, but several players including star right-back Reece James were left behind at Cobham. The English international is currently dealing with an illness.

However, the right-back will join the team later in the USA once he is completely fit, as it is merely precautionary. He earlier had an injury scare during training. Given James’s struggles last season, it is imperative that we don’t rush him back earlier than necessary.

James has undergone a knee scan and he is in good condition. Due to recurrent knee ailments, the 23-year-old had a difficult 22022-23 campaign and was sidelined for many games. His absence was felt on several occasions as we struggled to challenge on all fronts.

Now the England international is set to remain in West London unless he fully recovers from illness, along with Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, with striker Armando Broja also staying back.

Fofana suffered a knee injury, while Broja has been told to train at Cobham as he continues his recovery from ACL surgery. Badiashile is also recuperating from injury. We cannot afford to rush any player back and risk further concerns.

Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emile Aubameyang have been excluded from the 29-man squad that has travelled to the USA as they are both linked with moves away. Juventus are in contention to sign the 30-year-old after Inter Milan withdrew from the race, while the Gabonese striker has agreed personal terms with Marseille.

James is just 23 and is likely to play a huge role in Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea rebuild. After a knee injury scare and now an illness that could affect his pre-season games, Fit is imperative that he recovers fully before returning to action. The fitter he stays, the better it is for us in the long term.

More Chelsea News

• Danny Murphy advises Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to avoid signing AS Roma’s Paulo Dybala
• Ruben Loftus-Cheek admits he was discontent with the lack of playing time at Chelsea
• Reece James has undergone a knee scan ahead of crucial pre-season for Chelsea

Hopefully, he will get well quickly because Pochettino will need him for preseason and will need him during these friendly matches to implement his style of play for the Blues players. Sooner rather than later, James too shall join the fray.