Reece James injury: Chelsea captain may be out of action for weeks

Chelsea Defender Reece James could be out for weeks with a hamstring injury, coach Liam Rosenior said.

The Chelsea captain will miss his team’s home match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, after a 5-2 defeat in the first leg in France.

No specific time frame was given, but when asked if James could be out for several weeks, Rosenior replied: “It could be.”

The 26-year-old could miss the next England international later this month, with Thomas Tuchel’s squad to be announced on Friday.

He suffered the injury during the team’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle last Saturday.

Rosenior added: “With the hamstring injury, it was not great at all, and for Reis, we hope to give him a scan, find out how serious the injury is, and then we will know more because we know how important he is and the leader he is in the group.”

“He felt something in his hamstring at the end of the game against Newcastle. It’s really frustrating and disappointing for us. We don’t know the full extent for us but it will rule him out tomorrow.”

James has enjoyed a largely injury-free season so far after being carefully managed by Chelsea after several broken seasons in recent years. On Friday, he signed a new six-year contract to keep him at the club until 2032.

Chelsea are also missing winger Jimmy Gittins, goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and defender Levi Colwell, but Brazilian striker Estévão Willian is back in training and is in contention as he has not featured since early February.

Right-back Malo Giusto missed training due to illness but could be available on Tuesday, while winger Pedro Neto is eligible to play after receiving only a warning from UEFA for shoving a ball boy in the final moments of last week’s defeat at the Parc des Princes.

Rosenior added: “There was no real ill intent, it was just the will to continue the game, so I think UEFA made the right decision.”