Reece James Sidelined as Chelsea Prepares for Leicester Clash

Chelsea‘s head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed that team captain Reece James will not be part of the squad during the upcoming Premier League fixture against Leicester City at King Power Stadium. The decision came after James suffered a minor hamstring injury, prompting the management to err on the side of caution and not risk his immediate return to action.

«We have, for sure, just one injured player and that is Reece,» stated Maresca during a pre-match press conference held at Cobham. He further elaborated, «Unfortunately, he felt something small, and we do not want to take a risk with him at the weekend. He is the only one for sure who is not available for this weekend.»

The Blues will face a challenge from Steve Cooper’s Leicester City, Maresca’s former club, in an early kickoff scheduled for Saturday. The coach also highlighted that the fitness of other players would be assessed following the return of several squad members from international duty.

Maresca acknowledged the impact such travels can have on the players’ physical condition, stating, «The ones that are going to play [against Leicester] are not going to be 100 percent because they are human beings. When you play two games in South America and you have to play again…you are tired because you are a human being.»

Chelsea’s return to Premier League action positions them just shy of Manchester City, a win likely to narrow the points gap. Conversely, anything less than a win could provide opportunities for Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, or Brighton to overtake them. For Leicester, a victory would offer them a more secure position above the relegation zone.

Notably absent from international duty were players such as Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer, whose recent conditions are still being evaluated. Maresca commented on their statuses, saying, «Some of them are better; some we will test today. But overall, for sure, they are much better.»

As Chelsea aims for another victory under Maresca’s leadership, the upcoming match promises significant implications for both teams moving forward in the Premier League standings.