helsea face an anxious 48-hour wait to find the extent of Reece James’ newest knee-injury setback.
James trudged out of Chelsea’s huge Premier League return at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, with the Blues again in motion after the World Cup.
Kai Havertz and Mason Mount hit the web as Chelsea cruised to a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Bournemouth, however the gloss was taken off by James’ damage scare.
The 23-year-old appeared to undergo a recurrence of the knee situation that dominated him out of England’s World Cup marketing campaign, leaving boss Graham Potter with no alternative however to attend for the outcomes of scans.
“It’s the same area so we’re concerned. We’ll have to see in the next 24, 48 hours,” mentioned Potter. “I think there was that action, a chop, and he felt something then.
“We’ll have to see the extent of it and keep our fingers crossed. He is disappointed of course. But again, we’re right now at a stage where we’re just hoping it isn’t as bad.”
James pointed to his knee when hitting the turf early within the second half of Chelsea’s comfy victory over the Cherries.
The powerhouse full-back lined his face together with his hand whereas sat on the Stamford Bridge grass, earlier than not less than strolling off the sphere unaided.
James suffered the knee ligament downside that dominated him out of the World Cup in Chelsea’s 2-0 Champions League win at AC Milan on October 11.
The Chelsea academy graduate had been again in coaching for a number of weeks forward of the Premier League’s restart, however the Blues had been nonetheless aiming to watch out together with his return to motion.
Potter had already admitted forward of the Bournemouth conflict that Chelsea look a distinct staff with out James.
“Reece is a world-class player, he can play in any team in the world and any team would miss him,” mentioned Potter. “The plan was for him not to play 90 minutes tonight, the plan was for him to play 60, 65 minutes.
“We just have to hope it’s not as bad as it was and that he can get on a speedy recovery.”
