Chelsea will soon have their much-needed defender back in the squad.
Reece James suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Brighton on December 29. He joined teammate Ben Chilwell on the sidelines as Thomas Tuchel’s side suffered to make up for their absence.
The Blues have fallen ten points behind league leaders Manchester City as they continue their struggle for form. However, a new update on James might provide a major boost for their backline.
According to The Athletic, James will return to Chelsea’s squad in less than two weeks. The English source claims James has finished several individual training drills, building up fitness in recent weeks.
The defender could reportedly make his return in Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign in Abu Dhabi. The competition will start on February 9, with FIFA yet to announce the detailed schedule.
James started the current campaign in brilliant form. Prior to his injury, he scored five goals and provided six assists in his 23 appearances across all competitions.
Chelsea tried to recall Emerson Palmieri from his loan spell at Lyon to solve their wing-back crisis. However, the Ligue 1 side rejected their compensation offers, with Chelsea then considering different options. Reece James does not usually play at right-back, but his return will nonetheless help Chelsea in dealing with Chilwell’s absence.
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