Reece James will no longer play for Chelsea this season, interim manager Frank Lampard confirmed on Tuesday. The right wing defender is struggling with a hamstring injury and is out of circulation for several months. This is James’ second time this season. Earlier this season he was already struggling with a knee injury, which, among other things, put an end to the World Cup.
In addition to James, Mason Mount will also not play this season, Lampard announced. “Reece has a hamstring injury from the game against Real Madrid,” said Lampard during the press conference ahead of Wednesday’s league game against Brentford. “He has played the game, but the scan has shown that he will not play again this season. The same applies to Mount. He is undergoing surgery for his pelvic injury and then has to recover four works.”
As for Mount, Lampard was still a blow to the arm. There is a possibility that the midfielder can be used again for Chelsea on the last day of play, but that chance seems small. Mount has been linked in recent weeks with a move to Bayern Munich, where he is due to be reunited with Thomas Tuchel. The former Vitessenaar is not assured of a base place this season, apart from his injuries. In addition, he demands more salary and wants to be placed on the same scale as the top earners.
James has already been injured twice this season. In October, the England international was eliminated due to a knee injury, which forced him to cancel the World Cup, among other things. At the end of December, Chelsea again announced that the right back had to go into the rag basket due to a knee injury. James then indicated that 2022 was the toughest year of his career ‘mentally’.
The loss of James is another blow to Lampard, who has not had a good start to his second term at Stamford Bridge anyway. The former midfielder lost his first four games since taking over from Graham Potter. That has never happened to a Chelsea manager before. The Blues are eleventh in the Premier League. It takes a miracle to finish the season in a place that entitles them to European football.