Reece James Injury Woes Strike Again: Chelsea’s Glass Captain Can’t Catch a Break

Well, well, well. Here we go again with another thrilling episode of “Will Reece James Make It Through a Full Season?” Spoiler alert: probably not.

The Chelsea captain has once again pulled out of the England squad after picking up yet another injury during the Blues’ dramatic 2-1 victory over Liverpool. And honestly, at this point, we should probably just start a betting pool on how many games James will miss next.

James Withdraws From England Squad – Again

Thomas Tuchel, England‘s new boss and former Chelsea manager, had called up James for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Wales and Latvia. But surprise, surprise – James won’t be making the trip. The 25-year-old sustained his latest knock during Chelsea’s weekend clash with Liverpool, and despite completing the full 90 minutes, medical assessments have ruled him out of international duty.

Manchester City‘s Nico O’Reilly has stepped in to replace James, earning his first senior England call-up in the process. The 20-year-old full-back gets his big break thanks to James’s misfortune – because apparently, that’s how England’s right-back situation works these days.

Chelsea’s Walking Wounded Ward Gets a New Member

Let’s be brutally honest here – James joining Chelsea’s injury list is about as shocking as finding out water is wet. The England international has become something of a medical mystery, spending more time in the treatment room than on the pitch over the past few seasons.

During the 2023-24 campaign, James missed a staggering 40+ games for club and country after undergoing hamstring surgery. Last season? Another 26 matches down the drain. At this rate, the English defender should probably consider a part-time contract – it would be more accurate to his actual playing time.

Despite making his England debut back in 2020, James has managed just 21 caps for his country. That’s not exactly the international career trajectory you’d expect from someone who was supposedly England’s future at right-back. But hey, it’s hard to rack up appearances when you’re perpetually sidelined.

England’s Right-Back Revolving Door Keeps Spinning

The timing couldn’t be worse for James, who had been working his way back into Tuchel’s plans. The German coach, who knows James well from their successful Champions League-winning partnership at Chelsea, had shown faith in the injury-prone defender by including him in recent squads.

But James’s withdrawal opens the door for O’Reilly, who’s been impressing under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The youngster has made 15 Premier League appearances and earned his stripes across various England youth levels. At least someone’s benefiting from James’s latest setback.

Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all had their moments in the England right-back spot while James has been nursing various ailments. It’s almost like England has had to build their defensive plans around James’s unavailability rather than his presence.

Chelsea’s Injury Crisis Deepens

As if James’s latest injury wasn’t enough of a headache for Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s treatment room is beginning to resemble a crowded nightclub. The Blues are dealing with what can only be described as a defensive injury apocalypse.

Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile both limped off during the Liverpool match, joining an already extensive casualty list. Levi Colwill has been ruled out for the entire season after ACL surgery – because apparently, Chelsea’s defensive woes needed an encore performance.

Then there’s Cole Palmer, arguably Chelsea’s most important player, who’s nursing a groin complaint. The England playmaker’s absence could be catastrophic for Chelsea’s attacking output. Add Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and summer signing Dario Essugo to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a proper injury crisis.

At this point, Maresca might need to start recruiting from Chelsea’s Academy just to field a full team. The good news? They have until October 18 when they travel to Nottingham Forest. The bad news? That might not be enough time for half their squad to recover.

The Conundrum: Talent vs. Availability

Here’s the thing about Reece James – when he’s fit, he’s genuinely world-class. His attacking threat from right-back is exceptional, and his defensive capabilities are solid. But football is a game of availability, and the English fullback has failed spectacularly in that department.

Chelsea fans must be getting tired of the same old story. Big game coming up? James gets injured. Important international break? James pulls out. Crucial run of fixtures? The Chelsea defender is in the treatment room. It’s like clockwork, except clockwork is actually reliable.

The frustration isn’t just about individual games – it’s about the bigger picture. How can Chelsea build long-term tactical plans around a player who can’t stay healthy? How can England rely on someone who’s missed more games than he’s played over recent seasons?

Looking Ahead: Can James Break the Cycle?

With domestic action paused for the international break, James has another opportunity to work on his fitness and hopefully return for Chelsea’s trip to Nottingham Forest. But let’s be realistic here – we’ve been down this road before.

The pattern is always the same: injury, recovery, brief return, another setback. It’s like watching the same movie over and over again, except it’s not entertaining anymore, and the ending never changes.

Chelsea desperately need their captain to stay healthy, especially with their defensive injury crisis showing no signs of abating. But based on recent history, expecting James to complete a full season without multiple injury layoffs might be asking for too much.

Maybe it’s time for both Chelsea and England to start planning as if the Blues captain won’t be available, rather than hoping he will be. Because at this point, his injury record speaks louder than his undeniable talent when fit.

The international break gives James time to recover, but it also gives everyone else time to remember why relying on him might not be the smartest strategy. After all, you can’t build a team around a player who’s more familiar with the physio’s table than the football pitch.