Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Reece James has suffered a new injury, adding to the defender’s recent misfortunes. Speaking about the incident, Maresca revealed, “Reece James has been very unlucky with this new injury, to be fair.” The injury occurred just before James was scheduled to be substituted, with Maresca noting, “We planned to change him after 65 minutes, but he got injured after 62/63.”
The timeline for James’ return remains uncertain. Maresca stated, “We really don’t know when he will return yet, unfortunately.” This latest setback follows a series of injuries for the 24-year-old right-back, who has struggled with fitness issues over the past year.
James’ injury woes have been a recurring theme, with previous reports highlighting delays in his recovery. On 20 September 2024, Maresca had already expressed uncertainty regarding James’ return date. Earlier the same day, he confirmed injuries to both James and Malo Gusto, another Chelsea defender.
James’ injury history includes a hamstring issue reported on 10 December 2023, which further complicated his recovery process. The ongoing uncertainty around his fitness has been a significant concern for Chelsea, impacting their defensive stability.
As Chelsea navigates these challenges, the club and its supporters will be hoping for a swift and successful recovery for Reece James.