Pochettino Confirms Reece James Faces Extended Layoff
Chelsea’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League this season have taken a serious hit. Having only just returned from the treatment room, Reece James sustained a hamstring injury in the first half of the Blues’ match against Everton this past weekend.
The 24-year-old defender tweaked a similar issue against Liverpool on the first day of the new season, which caused him to miss several Premier League games earlier this season. James was eventually cleared to return to duty in October, but he was forced to leave the field on Sunday afternoon after only a few games.
Within the first thirty minutes at Goodison Park, Levi Colwill took the captain’s place for Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino was questioned about James’ injury after the Blues’ loss against the Toffees, and he called it “really disappointing.”
The former Tottenham manager added, “For us, is an important player, one of the best footballers in the world.” “Really upset because, once again, we were playing well after 15 or 20 minutes. Malo Gusto is still recovering from his injury, thus this kind of situation needs to change.
After that, you have to make some adjustments, but the squad was strong because, in my opinion, we were still playing hard and pushing even without Reece. Naturally, I’m disappointed because, in the end, you think you can work with a guy like him to create something that might, or should, be quite significant for us. Within the next two days, we will evaluate.”
In response to a question on James, Pochettino said, “He feels something in his hamstring but we don’t know the severity.”
With a busy holiday schedule already in place, Pochettino would have been hoping that James’ hamstring injury wasn’t too bad. On the England international, the west Londoners have since released an official statement.
“Captain Reece James has undergone medical assessment following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton,” the club stated in a statement. “The defender was taken off the pitch at Goodison Park during the first half, and scan findings have verified a hamstring injury. At Cobham, Reece will now start his recovery course.”
It is understood by football.london that James will be out for several months. Chelsea’s next opponents are Liverpool in the Premier League and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal. In February, they take on Manchester City and Tottenham.