United Kingdom

Chelsea captain Reece James has had successful surgery on a knee injury sustained in training before the club’s 5-1 victory over Bournemouth last weekend.

The 26-year-old defender is recovering under the supervision of Chelsea’s medical staff. The club has not set out a timetable for his return to action.

Chelsea decided that James should undergo an operation after the training injury. His absence comes before a demanding sequence of fixtures, beginning with a Premier League away match against Everton.

After travelling to Everton, Chelsea are due to host London rivals Tottenham and Manchester United. A Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool falls between those two home matches.

James has dealt with several injuries in recent seasons, which led him to miss a number of England international tournaments since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

His fitness record improved considerably last season, enabling him to play a prominent part in England’s World Cup campaign. England reached the semi-finals and then won the bronze-medal match.

James was one of the players who withdrew from England duty during the latest international break. England’s next break starts at the beginning of November, when the team are scheduled to play Croatia at Wembley Stadium.

Source: BBC