Chelsea suffer huge Reece James injury setback ahead of PSG clash | Football

Chelsea captain Reece James has suffered a hamstring injury and looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

James played the full 90 minutes of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle as Liam Rosenior’s side were dealt another blow in their hopes of securing a top-five finish on Saturday.

But the 26-year-old felt some discomfort in his hamstring in the closing stages of the match and was not pictured in first-team training this morning.

Facing the media this afternoon, ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 second leg with Paris Saint-Germain, Rosenior confirmed that James was a certainty to miss the clash.

Malo Gusto (illness) and Filip Jorgensen (groin) are also doubts to feature at Stamford Bridge after missing today’s training session at Cobham.

According to The Athletic, sources at Chelsea have indicated that James is expected to be out of action for ‘several weeks’ with the muscle problem.

The England right-back, who has been playing in midfield for Chelsea this season, has a long history of injury troubles stretching over the course of his career in senior football.

His latest setback will come as a significant blow to Chelsea, who enter a crucial stage of the campaign after what has been a tricky run of results.

Asked for an update on James’ condition this afternoon, Rosenior told reporters: ‘He’s felt something in his hamstring at the end of the Newcastle game.

‘We don’t know the full extent of the injury, but he will be out for tomorrow’s game [against PSG].

‘It could be [serious]. With a hamstring injury, it’s never great.

‘Hopefully we can get him scanned and find out the full extent.

‘Any player at any time, if you feel something, you are going to be worried about it. It was towards the end of the game.’

On Gusto’s absence from training, Rosenior explained: ‘Malo is ill today, so we’ll look at that tomorrow.

‘With Filip [Jorgsensen], he’s felt something in his groin and we will get him scanned.’

Since breaking through at Chelsea, James has missed a total of 136 games for club and country as a result of fitness issues and was forced to sit out the 2022 World Cup due to a knee injury.

The deadline for Thomas Tuchel to name his final England squad for this summer’s World Cup is May 30.

Following Kieran Trippier’s retirement from international duty, the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento and Ezri Konsa appear to be the standout right-back candidates should James fail to recover in time.

Arsenal full-back Ben White, meanwhile, has not featured for the Three Lions since his fallout with coaching staff under Gareth Southgate back in 2022.

James has enjoyed a relatively injury-free season by his standards this term, missing two matches in January due to a hip problem and three games last month with a minor knock.

Chelsea team-mates Marc Cucurella, Estevao and Jamie Gittens have also been out for spells with hamstring injuries this season.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Chelsea handed suspended transfer ban and fined £10.75m for breaching Premier League rules

MORE: £130million Champions League star told to snub Arsenal and join Chelsea

MORE: Chelsea ‘knock on door’ of £26m Bayern Munich star to discuss summer transfer