Chelsea fans have been dealt a blow ahead of the weekend’s Premier League clash against Leicester City, as head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed that club captain Reece James will miss the game due to a minor hamstring injury.

The Blues face Steve Cooper’s Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in the early kick-off on Saturday, a fixture that marks Maresca’s return to his former club. However, the absence of James, who has been a key figure in the team, will undoubtedly be felt.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Cobham, Maresca explained the decision to sideline James, emphasizing the importance of not rushing his recovery.

“We have, for sure, just one injured player and that is Reece,” Maresca said. “Unfortunately, he felt something small, and we do not want to take a risk with him at the weekend. He is the only one for sure who is not available for this weekend.”

Chelsea supporters can take some comfort in the fact that Maresca doesn’t believe the injury is serious, and the skipper could return to action soon.

“It is his hamstring with Reece, so a muscle problem,” Maresca added. “We don’t want to take any risk with this weekend, so hopefully it is not something long.”

The head coach also provided an update on the rest of the squad, revealing that the fitness of several players remains uncertain, particularly with the return of players from international duty.

“The rest, some of them are better and some of them are a doubt, plus we need to wait because today is the first session we do with all of the players from international duty, so we will see after today’s session.”

As the Blues prepare for a crucial clash at the King Power Stadium, fans will hope for a strong performance despite the absence of their captain. All eyes will now be on Maresca’s final squad selection and whether the team can continue their push for a strong Premier League campaign.