Reece James
CHE
Center Midfielder
Deep-Lying Playmaker
Dec 8, 1999 (26)
Right
5'11"
181 lb
Ranking
Grades
Key Grades
2026/2027 Premier League
Overall Grades by game
2026/2027 Premier League
Upcoming matches
News
Potentially back after break
James (hamstring) is eyeing a potential return following the international break, according to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, according to London is Blue Podcast. "I believe what I'm told that he'll be back after the international break & that it was a small difficulty. Obviously, everyone has their concerns around Reece in terms of durability, but if we're talking about this specific injury, I'm not worried."
Analysis: James missed the last match ahead of the break with a hamstring issue, a common occurrence for the versatile player, which has brought some concerns around his status. However, it does appear that he could avoid missing any more time, as the injury seemed to be played down, and a return could be coming after a few weeks off due to the international break. This would give him around three and a half weeks of recovery, an adequate time to recover from a low-grade hamstring injury.
Out against Brentford
James is unavailable for Friday's trip to Brentford after picking up a minor hamstring injury against Hull City, coach Xabi Alonso said, per Sky Sports. "He had a little injury in his hamstring. He tried, and we waited until this morning, but he couldn't make it. Now we have enough time to prepare for the next one, but he was just a few days short of recovering."
Analysis: James's absence at Brentford should be brief after Alonso described his hamstring tear as minor and confirmed that the captain had pushed to make himself available for the match. Chelsea do not play again until Bournemouth visit on Oct. 10, giving James an extended period to complete his recovery without an international assignment after being left out of England's squad. His return can therefore be managed gradually, with the recurring nature of his hamstring problems making a controlled reintroduction particularly relevant as he continues to feature in central midfield. His absence gives Jordan Henderson a chance to make his first start since his summer move.
Explore more players
Rayan Cherki
MCI• #10• AM
Martin Ødegaard
ARS• #8• AM
Declan Rice
ARS• #41• CM
Bruno Fernandes
MUN• #8• AMSelect Player
Search and select a player to compare