Reece James will miss Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Leeds United on Saturday due to a hamstring injury.
Graham Potter revealed his right-back was a doubt for this weekend’s clash at Stamford Bridge during a press conference on Friday.
But the Chelsea boss has since confirmed he will have no role to play against the west Yorkshire club but is hopeful he will be fit to return for Chelsea’s Champions League second leg clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
‘Reece is feeling a bit of tightness which is sometimes understandable coming back from injury,’ Potter told Chelsea’s official website.
‘We have been assessing him this week and feel it is too soon for the game today. There is a strong chance he will be available for Tuesday [against Borussia Dortmund] but this game comes too soon.’
James has endured a difficult campaign on the injury front, missing the World Cup as a result of a knee injury suffered in October and then suffering a setback in his first game back. He has started just 10 of Chelsea’s league games this season, only three of those this year.
Chelsea will also be without Mason Mount this afternoon after he suffered an abdominal injury while Thiago Silva is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines as a result of a knee ligament problem.
Potter is hopeful Wesley Fofana, fit again after his only troubled season with injuries, can step in and fill the void.
‘You’re always going to miss a player and a person of Thiago Silva’s quality, but at the same time it’s an opportunity for other players,’ Potter said.
‘Wesley [Fofana] is coming back into the team after a long injury. We’ve missed him. He’s a different type of person to Thiago of course, but he has qualities as well.
‘It’s exciting for people to emerge and develop into a role that is left vacant in terms of what Thiago brings.
‘There isn’t another Thiago Silva, so as a group we need to try to find a solution together. That’s what the players have been working towards.
‘We’ve had a good training week, some good feedback, some good honest conversations. I feel the support from the players and the people in the building, and we all want to improve, and that’s exciting.’
MORE : Arsenal and Chelsea interested in Wilfried Zaha on summer free transfer
MORE : Arsenal legend Martin Keown fires warning to Manchester United ahead of Liverpool clash
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
