Reece James injury history: Chelsea captain crosses 500-day mark on sidelines as return from latest fitness issue delayed

Reece James’ harm hell exhibits no signal of ending as his highly-anticipated return from his newest health challenge has been delayed.

The Chelsea captain has been plagued with health considerations throughout his profession that has seen him spend over 500 days on the sidelines.

James is but to make a single aggressive look underneath new Blues boss Enzo Maresca as his torrid time with accidents continues.

The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring harm throughout his first official recreation as Chelsea captain on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

That drawback noticed him miss ten video games, with James trying to handle his workload upon his return by skipping England responsibility final November.

Nonetheless, only a month after that, the defender suffered a recurrence of the hamstring challenge in a 2-0 defeat to Everton.

5 months after present process surgical procedure, James returned within the remaining few matches of final season however any hopes of proving his health to make a late case for a wildcard entry into England’s Euro 2024 squad had been ruined by a purple card towards Brighton in Could.

His ban prolonged into the primary three Premier League video games of this marketing campaign but a problem sustained over the summer time has stored him out regardless.

In line with the Solar, James’ third hamstring harm in a yr has not healed in addition to anticipated and membership medics have put his comeback on maintain.

Talking forward of Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth, Maresca hinted as a lot when he mentioned: “Sadly, Reece James wants extra time.”

It is one other hammer blow for James, who managed simply 10 Premier League appearances final time period, and solely 16 outings within the yr earlier than.

His ever-increasing harm report means the Blues academy graduate has solely performed 34 extra video games for the membership than he is missed.

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James is amongst Chelsea’s finest gamers at any time when he’s on the pitch however his health considerations characterize a serious drawback.

The proper-back has already had 18 intervals of absence since coming into the west Londoners’ first-team squad in 2019.

That provides as much as 124 video games and counting Chelsea have not had him at his disposal, with over 510 days racked up within the therapy room.

It’s a damning report his personal father Nigel has tried to handle throughout an interview with the Lovely Sport podcast in 2023.

When requested what Chelsea are doing to resolve his reoccurring hamstring points, James Snr mentioned: “He’s not in my fingers no extra, he’s within the fingers of Chelsea Soccer Membership.

“I can’t query them and say, have you ever lot accomplished this? Course they’re gonna do it.

“They’re bought the highest folks to verify they get it proper.”

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James has began 118 video games throughout all competitions in his Blues profession, with 81 of these coming within the Premier League.

His newest aggressive begin got here underneath Mauricio Pochettino in December, with solely two cameo outings since – each in Could.

His issues within the skilled ranks began after an ankle harm whereas enjoying for England on the Toulon Match in June 2019.

Since then, James has been sidelined with knee, thigh, and ankle issues, together with his hamstrings a specific space of concern.

James additionally missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after struggling a knee harm within the build-up – with considerations over his health ruling him out of Gareth Southgate’s remaining event as England boss this summer time.

The newest hamstring harm he sustained in pre-season was the seventh the defender has been stricken throughout the previous three years.

Extremely, his longest run with out health worries got here throughout a season-long mortgage at Wigan in 2018/19 which nonetheless accounts for over 30 per cent of his profession league begins.