Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso confirms new Reece James knee injury
Chelsea captain Reece James is facing another period on the sidelines after suffering a fresh knee injury in training prior to Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Bournemouth.
The England international was expected to return to action at Stamford Bridge, but he was left out of the 20-player matchday squad entirely following a setback on Friday afternoon.
Training setback sidelined Chelsea skipper
Speaking to Sky Sports before kick-off, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that the 26-year-old had sustained a problem during preparation for the fixture.
“Unfortunately, Reece picked up a little injury yesterday, so we’ll see.”
James had previously withdrawn from international duty with England to manage his workload, having featured six times for the Blues in all competitions prior to the break.
Alonso has primarily used the defender in a central midfield role since taking charge in July, aiming to manage the physical demands on the skipper following his past hamstring problems.
Alonso awaiting test results on James
Addressing the media in his post-match press conference after the 5-1 win, Alonso admitted he is uncertain when his captain will be fit to return.
“Yeah, he felt something but after we did the tests later in the afternoon and he had some little issues on the knee so we need to check how long it will be.”
The Spaniard added that the club medical staff will evaluate the full extent of the damage on a weekly basis before making a decision on his recovery timeline.
“We need to assess him week-by-week.”
Midfield options soften injury blow
Despite missing their captain, Chelsea produced an emphatic performance against Bournemouth, with Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, and Moises Caicedo all returning to the starting line-up.
Caicedo partnered Jodan Henderson in central midfield, while Romeo Lavia and Marco Palestra were also available off the bench to give Alonso plenty of depth in the middle of the pitch.
The Blues only have five fixtures scheduled between now and November 21, allowing the coaching staff time to avoid rushing James back into action unnecessarily.
Chelsea will next travel to face Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday, where Alonso will hope for further clarity regarding his skipper’s availability.
