An international break would not be complete with injury issues and squad withdrawals. It is something all clubs become familiar with and Chelsea are no different.
Reece James and Kai Havertz have both departed from the national sides in recent days through injury and illness respectively. With a busy April ahead, the club will be hopeful that neither issue is too significant and can be resolved quickly.
While there will be a degree of relief from the Blues that James was not risked against Ukraine, until he is back at Cobham for rehabilitation there will always be concern given the wing-back's injury record this season. That the England camp noted he was departing so Chelsea could assess an 'ongoing' issue brought reassurance and worry in equal measure.
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Speaking ahead of England's match against Ukraine, Gareth Southgate said: "Reece has gone back, he’s not completely happy with how his leg feels. He was a little bit concerned about that earlier in the week.
"I think, probably for him, the injury after the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup has made him a little more cautious at this moment in time. It probably needs some time.
"It is not unusual to have a serious injury and then smaller injuries on the back of that. With Reece, it is a case of building his resilience to load and him being comfortable with that. With him, the club tends to play a game and we are a bit more cautious on the next one. He is a really good player and he has got absolutely everything and could be anything he wants to be. This is a temporary thing and hopefully, he can overcome that pretty quickly."
The importance of that task is not lost on Chelsea supporters or the club's hierarchy. Malo Gusto was signed in January and will arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer to provide some support on the right flank so James can be managed more efficiently. However, there remains an issue for Graham Potter to deal with now.
Ahead of the games against Leeds, James reported tightness in his hamstring and with the continuation of the issue it's clear: even if James is okay, Chelsea will have to be careful throughout April. The Blues have at least eight matches to contend with in April and simply, the England international will not be able to play all of them.
The 23-year-old will undoubtedly be prioritised for both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, given the importance of the fixtures in Chelsea's season and James' display against Vinicius Junior last term.
That means the Blues need a plan to operate without James in a number of games and already this season, Potter has shown a number of options.
Most recently Ruben Loftus-Cheek has taken up the responsibility on the right flank, and put in an impressive performance himself against Real Madrid while James was part of a back three. Utilising Loftus-Cheek in the position would alleviate some pressure in the centre of midfield as the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher and the returning N'Golo Kante battle for a spot alongside Enzo Fernandez.
Cesar Azpilicueta could also return following the international break and has shown his ability to deputise for James in recent seasons, while the likes of Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Gallagher and have all filled-in this term too. Potter has options and must be sure to use them as Champions League takes priority even if there is belief in the club that they can still earn European football through domestic competition.
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