Chelsea and Enzo Maresca could be without their captain Reece James for a little bit longer.
Reece James is yet to play a game for Chelsea this season because of injury and suspension, and it was a similar story last term.
During the 2023/24 campaign, the right-back was only able to make 10 appearances in the Premier League.
Malo Gusto is back in training, so Chelsea have at least been boosted by that. The 21-year-old missed the trip to Bournemouth over the weekend, resulting in Axel Disasi starting at right-back.
- READ MORE: Journalist shares what he’s heard about Chelsea star Reece James and his return from injury
Reece James injury update
The good news for Chelsea fans and Maresca is that James has not suffered a fresh injury.
According to a report from The Sun, insiders at Stamford Bridge are insisting that there has been no setback or new injury.
Rather, James has not recovered as quickly as Chelsea would have liked him to. There is, of course, nothing that he can do about that, leaving Gusto as the only natural right-back option available to Maresca right now.
Despite competing for the same position, James and Gusto seem to have a very good relationship. James had messaged Gusto even before he had officially signed for Chelsea.
Reece James’ injury record
It was not only last season where James had injury problems. According to Transfermarkt, the 24-year-old missed 24 games during the 2022/23 campaign because of injuries and illness.
The campaign before that, he missed 20, and last season, the number was a record 38.
It is extremely worrying, and you just do not know how the England international is going to improve his injury record.
At least the Blues now have Gusto to call upon. The Frenchman did not do a bad job when filling in for James last term.
Gusto set up nearly 10 goals in 37 appearances, so Chelsea still had an attacking threat from the right-back position when he was on the pitch.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara is a big fan of Gusto and thinks he would still start even if James was fit.
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