Chelsea injury update: Reece James and Omari Kellyman latest news and return dates

Evening Standard

·30 September 2024

Chelsea injury update: Reece James and Omari Kellyman latest news and return dates

Blues without just two players ahead of Gent and Nottingham Forest games

Chelsea have only two injury concerns ahead of a week where they face Gent in the Conference League as well as Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

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The Blues are in fine form with Cole Palmer netting all four goals in their 4-2 win over Brighton on Saturday.

Malo Gusto has returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a thigh injury, while midfielder Romeo Lavia came off the bench at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after overcoming a hamstring problem.

Sidelined: Captain Reece James hasn’t played for Chelsea yet this season

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Reece James

Club captain James still hasn’t featured under new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca after suffering another hamstring injury during the club’s pre-season tour of the USA.

James last played for the Blues competitively in May and it remains to be seen when he will be in a position to return.

Before the Brighton game, Maresca said: “The only one [missing] is Reece. He is still out, and there is no real update on him at the moment.”

Previously, he said: “His injury is a bit delayed, and the most important thing for him - for any injury - is the player comes back when they are 100 per cent fit.”

Potential return date: Unknown at present

Omari Kellyman

Kellyman is yet to make his senior Chelsea debut after joining the club for a fee of around £19million from Aston Villa this summer.

The 19-year-old has played for the Under-21s but a hamstring injury has limited his time on the pitch so far this season.

Kellyman confirmed at the beginning of September that he had suffered an injury setback and could be out for another two months.

Potential return date: November

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