Reece James sends message to Chelsea fans after surprise report
Chelsea captain Reece James took to social media to tease fans after he returned to first-team training during the international break.
The 24-year-old was photographed training with his Chelsea teammate after picking up yet another hamstring injury at the start of the season.
James missed 38 games across all competitions last season with a similar injury and is yet to make a competitive appearance under new manager Enzo Maresca.
According to Football Transfers, the right-back’s representatives have reached out to Barcelona and Benfica as they believe a ‘warmer climate’ will help stem his injury troubles.
Chelsea have had a solid start to the season without James, sitting in fourth with four wins, two draws, and one defeat from their opening seven league games.
Reece James set for Chelsea return
The defender remained at Cobham during the international break to focus on his recovery and hasn’t played an international match since England’s 2-1 Euro 2024 qualifier win over Italy in March 2023.
Right-back rival Trent Alexander-Arnold has flourished since Gareth Southgate’s departure, being named man of the match in three of England’s four UEFA Nations League games under Lee Carsley.
James is facing competition at club level, Malo Gusto has stepped up and filled the void left by the captain expertly, with the Frenchman hailed as one of the best signings under the Todd Boehly/Clearlake era.
Responding to a post made by Chelsea’s official Instagram account, James let fans know he’s set to make his return sooner rather than later.
While the exact timeline is unclear, James could be set to return for Chelsea’s pivotal Premier League clash with leaders Liverpool on Sunday, October 20th.
Maresca may prefer to take his time, with a low-pressure Europa Conference League tie against Greek side Panathinaikos on the Thursday after.
In other news, Chelsea’s stance on selling Christopher Nkunku revealed after confirmed news.
For more Chelsea and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.