Chelsea captain Reece James is expected to be out of action for about three months after undergoing minor surgery on a knee injury sustained during training.
The 26-year-old picked up the injury last Friday, a day before Chelsea thrashed Bournemouth 5-1 in the Premier League.
Chelsea confirmed on Friday that the operation was successful, adding that James had started rehabilitation under the supervision of the club’s medical team. However, no official return date has been announced.
James is set to miss a challenging run of fixtures, including Premier League clashes against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as Chelsea’s Carabao Cup encounter with Liverpool.
Chelsea visit Everton on Saturday before hosting Tottenham on October 24. They travel to Liverpool on October 28 and welcome Manchester United on October 31.
The latest injury represents another setback for James, who has struggled with recurring fitness problems in recent seasons.
He made 29 Premier League appearances last season, his highest tally since the 2020-21 campaign, and earned a place in England’s World Cup squad.
The defender has featured six times for Chelsea this season, including three starts in the Premier League.
In March, James committed his future to the club by signing a new six-year contract.
