Reece James doubtful for Chelsea vs Arsenal after recent injury setback, says journo

Di Marzio journalist Nathan Gissing reveals that Chelsea skipper Reece James suffered a relapse during his recovery from a hamstring injury

According to Di Marzio journalist Nathan Gissing via X, Chelsea skipper Reece James suffered a setback during his recovery from a hamstring injury a couple of days ago and has been training alone since then.

The 23-year-old is doubtful for the Arsenal game thanks to the injury as Premier League football resumes this weekend following the international break. This isn’t the first time he has suffered a relapse either. Last season, he went through the same situation while recovering from a knee injury. Surely, the medical team should do better.

He had to undergo knee surgery last campaign, which kept him out for a few months. Hopefully, this isn’t the case with this season. The England international has already missed several games with the injury and is also now set to sit out of the clash against the Gunners.

James suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s opening match with Liverpool, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The right-back has shown himself to be injury-prone and despite his potential, it matters for little unless he is able to take to the field.

The Blues should be very cautious with James because he appears to have rushed into action despite not recovering fully. It’s a pity to see such a talented right-back spend much of his time on the sidelines.

Certainly, these reoccurring injuries take a mental toll on him, but he cannot do anything and hopes to recover before the end of the year. Injuries affect players a lot, and James is just 23, meaning his best years are still ahead of him. Hopefully, his fitness will improve in the coming years.

We saw what occurred with Eden Hazard, who was forced to retire after leaving Real Madrid due to his repeated injuries. A football career might be damaged by injuries because they sometimes force them to give up and make difficult choices if they aren’t fit the majority of the time.

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We don’t know how long we will have to wait for James to return, but his coming back to face Arsenal would have been a huge lift for us. Now that he is training alone, he will see how quickly he can recuperate. Hopefully, he won’t rush things and will instead take his time.