Reece James features in full gear at Cobham, hinting at an early return

Reece James and his injury problems are becoming a matter of grave concern with every passing week for Chelsea.

The Blues’ head coach Enzo Maresca admitted recently that he’d need more time to recover from his hamstring injury.

However, a recent social media drop from one of his teammates hints that James may return earlier than expected.

Early return for Reece James hinted with social media photo

Reece James was recently pictured in full training gear in a story shared on Instagram by Roméo Lavia.

The presence of cleats in the Chelsea captain’s ensemble suggests he may have begun training to some extent as he works towards his latest recovery.

James sustained a hamstring injury days before the start of the new season after working his way through his last niggle throughout pre-season, during which he was a regular presence.

The 24-year-old missed a total of 38 games for Chelsea last season, making just 11 appearances across all competitions.

James’ consistent unavailability has even prompted Chelsea to look for more options in January. Notably, their other right-back Malo Gusto is also sidelined with a hamstring injury until at least next month.

Things getting dire for James

James’ unavailability indeed has become a problem for Chelsea, to the point that they need to find a long-term solution.

You know things are bad when one has to suggest that Chelsea, of all clubs, need to dip into the transfer market.

For now, James needs to be given as much time as he needs to recover. His undeniable quality makes him an asset, but it won’t be long before questions start surfacing regarding his presence at the club.

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