Chelsea’s captain Reece James has been sidelined for the match against Leicester City due to a new injury setback.

Chelsea’s captain, Reece James, has been dealt a significant blow ahead of Saturday’s away clash against Leicester City, which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The 24-year-old defender has been ruled out due to a fresh injury, marking yet another setback in what has been a challenging season for the Blues’ skipper.

James had only just returned to action in October after missing the start of the season, but he now faces another spell on the sidelines. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the news, stating that the club will be without their first-choice right-back for the crucial fixture at the King Power Stadium.

“We have, for sure, just one injured player and that is Reece,” Maresca said. “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 manager went on to provide an update on the rest of the squad, noting that while some players are improving, others remain doubtful. “The rest, some of them are better and some of them are a doubt,” he added. “We need to wait because today is the first session we do with all of the players from international duty, so we will see after today’s session.”

Maresca also revealed that James is dealing with a hamstring issue, describing it as a muscle problem. “We don’t want to take any risk with this weekend, so hopefully it is not something long,” he said, expressing hope for a swift recovery.

In addition to James, there are concerns regarding the fitness of Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill, both of whom withdrew from international duty as England secured victories over Greece and Ireland in the Nations League. Maresca admitted he was unaware of the specifics surrounding their situations, having taken a week off after the match against Arsenal.

“To be honest, after we played Arsenal, I left for one week on holiday, so I don’t know about the conversations between the club and the international teams,” he explained. “As I said, some of them are better, some we will test today. But overall, for sure, they are much better.”

Chelsea currently sit third in the Premier League table and will be eager to secure their first domestic win of November against Leicester, following draws with Manchester United and Arsenal before the international break. The Blues will be hoping to bounce back and maintain their strong position in the league as they head into this important fixture.