Chelsea’s captain, Reece James, has encountered yet another setback after sustaining a hamstring injury in training, Blues manager Enzo Maresca confirmed. The 24-year-old defender, who has been plagued by hamstring issues for years, recently returned to action after undergoing surgery last year to address the recurring problem. However, he will miss Saturday’s match against Leicester due to this new injury.

Maresca downplayed concerns about a prolonged absence, explaining that while the injury is significant enough to rule James out for the weekend, it is not expected to keep him sidelined for long. “We don’t want to take any risks for the weekend,” Maresca said. “He felt something small in training, and it’s a hamstring issue. We don’t know for how long, but we hope it will be soon.”

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James’ recurring hamstring problems have been a major obstacle throughout his career. This marks his eighth hamstring injury in just four years, with other injuries to his knee, thigh, and ankle adding to his frustrating injury record. Since breaking into Chelsea’s senior team in 2019, James has struggled to maintain consistent fitness, with his longest streak of matches being just six in a row back in 2021.

After a lengthy absence, James returned to action in October following a 562-day wait to complete a full 90 minutes in the Premier League. Despite his desire to stay fit and contribute to Chelsea’s campaign, injuries have continually hindered his progress, making his goal for this season clear: “My goal is to stay on the pitch.”

The injury comes at a difficult time for Chelsea, as James has already faced multiple setbacks this season, including a pre-season injury against Real Madrid. Although the Blues have other players available, such as Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana, Maresca acknowledged that some players returning from international duty may not be fully match fit for the upcoming fixtures.