Reece James Suffers Injury Setback as Mauricio Pochettino Gives Update
Chelsea captain Reece James has suffered an injury setback and is expected to be out for at least a few weeks, according to manager Mauricio Pochettino. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham manager has already lost Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana to serious injuries, and the news of James’ injury is a significant blow to his side.
James suffered a hamstring injury in training this week and will be replaced by summer signing Malo Gusto. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Pochettino said: ‘It’s a sad moment because he’s our captain and he was so excited by that. He was full of energy. I think we’re going to assess him day-by-day. Hopefully he can come back soon and be stronger than he was. He will not be back in a few days. It will be a few weeks. It’s not a big issue but the most important thing is that we sort the problem and he can come back.’
Chelsea Draw 1-1 With Liverpool in Premier League Opener
Chelsea drew 1-1 with Liverpool in their Premier League opener and travel across London to face West Ham this weekend. Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia could make their Chelsea debuts at the London Stadium after arriving at Stamford Bridge this week from Brighton and Southampton respectively.
While Pochettino has managed in the Premier League before, he says last weekend’s draw with Liverpool offered a reminder of how tough the English top-flight is. ‘The competition is really tough,’ he said. ‘The tempo is amazing. It’s higher than any other competition in Europe and the world. The time of recovery is completely different. It’s the most difficult competition in the world.’
Conclusion
Reece James’ injury setback is a huge blow for Chelsea, who are already without Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana due to serious injuries. Mauricio Pochettino expects James to be out for at least a few weeks, but he hopes that he can come back stronger than ever when he does return. Chelsea will travel to West Ham this weekend, where Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia could make their debuts for the club.
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