Huge blow: Graham Potter consoles Reece James after his injury setback on Tuesday
(Picture: REUTERS)Chelsea face an anxious 48-hour wait to discover the extent of Reece James’ latest knee-injury setback.
James trudged out of Chelsea’s big Premier League return at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, with the Blues back in action after the World Cup.
Kai Havertz and Mason Mount hit the net as Chelsea cruised to a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Bournemouth, but the gloss was taken off by James’ injury scare.
The 23-year-old appeared to suffer a recurrence of the knee issue that ruled him out of England’s World Cup campaign, leaving boss Graham Potter with no choice but to wait for the results of scans.
“It’s the same area so we’re concerned. We’ll have to see in the next 24, 48 hours,” said 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 in the second half of Chelsea’s comfortable victory over the Cherries.
The powerhouse full-back covered his face with his hand while sat on the Stamford Bridge grass, before at least walking off the field unaided.
James suffered the knee ligament problem that ruled 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 back in training for several weeks ahead of the Premier League’s restart, but the Blues were still aiming to be careful with his return to action.
Potter had already admitted ahead of the Bournemouth clash that Chelsea look a different team without James.
“Reece is a world-class player, he can play in any team in the world and any team would miss him,” said 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.”
