Chelsea’s Reece James Set To Be Out For About Three Months With Hamstring Injury.

Chelsea have confirmed Reece James will be out for at least three months with hamstring injury after scan results. 

The Blues captain asked to be substituted after feeling his right hamstring again in the 26 minutes during their contest with Everton at Goodison Park last Sunday, which Chelsea eventually lost 2-0 courtesy of goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin.

It was James first start since November 25 and has started just six of Chelsea's 19 matches this season.

Although the club have not put a timescale on the recent injury, but the right-back is expected to be out for about three months.

He was out for two months after a hamstring injury in August and it has not taken long for him to break down again.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino had hoped his fitness regime would help James cure his hamstring problems without surgical intervention, but the right-back is now seeking external help.

The 24-year-old defender, who has sustained seven hamstring injuries in three years, visited a specialist on Tuesday to determine the problem’s severity and cause of the re-occuring injury, he must make a decision on whether to undergo surgery.

An operation would push back James’s return but there is a feeling that it would be better for him in the long run. 

"Scan results have confirmed a hamstring injury," the club said in a statement. "Reece will now begin his rehabilitation programme at Cobham."

The injury to the Chelsea captain is a huge blow for the club ahead of the busy festive period.

James was given the armband at the start of the season. The vice-captain, Ben Chilwell, is also out with a long-term hamstring injury. Conor Gallagher has been captain when Chilwell and James have been out.

The West London side are 12th in the Premier League are already without several first-team players as they prepare for their upcoming match at home against Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and the left-back Marc Cucurella also went off early against Everton. Two of their expensive summer signings, Christopher Nkunku and Roméo Lavia, are yet to play a minute of competitive football.

They are currently without Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Trevor Chalobah, Malo Gusto and Carney Chukwuemeka, among others.

Pochettino will hope Nkunku returns from a long-term knee injury for the game against Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea upcoming four Premier League matches before the end of the calendar year:

• Sheffield United (Saturday, December 16),

• Newcastle United in the Caraboa Cup quarter-finals (Tuesday, December 19)

• Wolves (Sunday, December 24), 

• Crystal Palace (Wednesday, December 27),

• Luton (Saturday, December 30).

Meanwhile, James recent injury worries could also unlikely see him not be part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad at Euro 2024.

Southgate will take a 23-man squad to Germany next summer and has said fitness will play a major part in his team selection. 

James had missed last year’s World Cup in Qatar with a knee injury, but the Three Lions boss Southgate is not short of options at right-back, with Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to be picked.