Chelsea defender Reece James has encountered another injury blow, suffering a hamstring issue during a training session at Cobham this week.

This setback comes after the team’s return from their pre-season tour of the United States, where James had been showing promising form.

James, 24, who had started all five of Chelsea’s pre-season friendlies, was forced to exit early during the club’s final match of the tour against Real Madrid on Tuesday night. He was substituted after 70 minutes, with Wesley Fofana taking his place on the field.

The injury has been described as minor, according to The Athletic, but Chelsea are expected to approach James’ recovery with caution.

Given that James is already suspended for the first three Premier League games of the season due to a red card in the penultimate match against Brighton & Hove Albion last season, the club can afford to be patient.

Malo Gusto, who had a strong 2023-24 campaign, was already set to cover in James’ absence.

Despite the optimism surrounding the injury’s severity, there are concerns over James’ recurring hamstring problems, which have significantly affected his game time in recent years.

Last season, the England international managed to start only five Premier League games, having undergone surgery in December to address a left leg issue.

With James now ruled out of Chelsea’s final pre-season fixture against Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, the focus will shift to his potential availability for the UEFA Conference League play-offs against Braga or Servette later this month.

However, the likelihood of his participation in those games appears slim, with the club eyeing a possible return after the international break, on September 14th against Bournemouth.

This latest injury raises further questions about James’ fitness as Chelsea prepare for the upcoming season, where his presence will be crucial to the team’s ambitions.