Reece James unlikely to play before end of year as Chelsea throw support behind captain

Reece James is not expected to return from his latest injury until the end of December following a hamstring scan, with Chelsea ready to back him in another physical and mental battle.

Chelsea have not set a specific time frame for James’ return and have not confirmed the result of this week’s analysis. But it is understood James may not return until the new year, depending on how his recovery progresses.

It is believed that although James is out again with a hamstring injury, his latest issue is not considered a recurrence of a previous injury.

As well as providing James with the best rehabilitation program possible, Chelsea are also aware of the mental struggle James is facing and will support him in any way possible.

This includes not pressuring him to rush back and trying to minimize the attention to a set amount of time.

James was reportedly devastated by his latest injury setback, having played just 654 minutes of football – and missed 55 games entirely – since being named Chelsea captain 15 months ago.

Head coach Enzo Maresca said Chelsea did not want to put pressure on James, who last year gave an insight into the mental toll his injuries are taking on him.

Chelsea play nine games in December, starting with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, in which they travel to Tottenham Hotspur and finish the year with a trip to Ipswich Town.

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Ongoing injuries challenge James more than ever, but he is determined to fight.

Reece James has a tattoo on his lower right leg that says “I just didn’t stop” and it’s a message the Chelsea captain will once again need to remember during his latest battle with injuries.

The tattoo is believed to have been inspired by the late American rapper Nipsey Hussle, who said in interviews that his only distinguishing trait on the road to success was that “I just didn’t give up”.

Real name Airmiess Joseph Asghedom, Nipsey owes his nickname to his entrepreneurial spirit which saw him shining shoes and selling mixtapes before achieving musical and commercial triumphs.

Hussle was murdered in 2019, but his message lives on among his fans, of which James appears to be one.

James is determined not to give up, as he has already proven on numerous occasions, but that doesn’t mean he is immune to the mental strain that comes with every injury setback.

The latter should mean he won’t play again until the end of December and could prevent him from playing again this year, although his current hamstring injury is not considered a recurrence of a previous problem.

If that turns out to be the case, James will finish 2024 with just 271 minutes of football under his belt, which would equate to three full 90 minutes, plus just one minute of extra time for stoppages.

That’s a tragically low figure for someone with James’ ability and determination, and it’s no surprise that he was devastated by his latest hamstring problem.

This is by no means the most serious injury James has suffered, but the relentless number of setbacks he has suffered means the mental pain must increase with each hit.

The Club will not abandon him

This was best illustrated last December after James underwent hamstring surgery and posted a message on social media that read: “Since this injury I have received a lot of support but a lot more hate and negativity. Believe me, I don’t want to get hurt, I’m happiest when I play football.

“Thanks to the understanding people who support me despite the ups and downs, it goes a long way. Stay well, Reece.

For the majority of Chelsea fans who wish James only the best, the words “hate” and “negativity” came as a shock, while others who had expressed frustration at his absence may have re-evaluated their own feelings.

The question of when exactly James will return is now secondary in the thoughts of those at Chelsea, with his physical and mental well-being of the utmost importance.

Chelsea know that James, as his tattoo indicates, will not give up and the club certainly won’t give up on him. The 24-year-old committed to Chelsea when he signed a long-term contract in September 2022, at a time of great uncertainty and upheaval, and the club reaffirmed their commitment to him by naming him captain. last summer.

This isn’t the appropriate time to debate whether naming James captain has been a help or a hindrance, but one need only take a look at the list of Chelsea captains to appreciate the pressure that comes with honor to wear the armband of Stamford Bridge.

Ron Harris, Dennis Wise, Marcel Desailly, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta have all worn the armband with distinction, just as James no doubt wants them to.

It will therefore be an understandable regret on his part that since being named Chelsea captain, James has only played 654 minutes of football and he will understand that his injury problems cannot simply be ignored by the whole world.

Maresca said Chelsea did not want to put pressure on James and would therefore prefer not to discuss him publicly while he is injured.

This feeling is completely understandable, but it is also unrealistic. James is Chelsea captain, one of the club’s most talented players of his generation and his latest setback will be the subject of interest, debate and commentary.

“I will emerge victorious. Against all odds

James himself seemed to acknowledge this after his current injury was confirmed last week when he posted a message on social media saying: “This message is for people who understand and respect what I’m going through… I appreciate you. so much so, your support and kind words go further than you could ever imagine.

“And just to talk about myself… I’m fine, I’m better and also worse. Another upcoming challenge accepted. Eventually, I will prevail. Against all odds.

“Finally, I would like to address the upcoming holiday season, these times are hard for everyone! I wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season.

The end of this post now states that James was signing for Christmas while recovering from injury and any upset supporters can rest assured that the defender’s frustration will far outweigh their own.

But, just like his tattoo says, James won’t give up and Chelsea have already demonstrated they have no intention of giving up on him.

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