Chelsea suffer brutal injury blow with star defender leaving England camp ahead of Ukraine game

Chelsea defender Reece Jame is a doubt to face Aston Villa next weekend having withdrawn from the England camp due to injury and will miss the game against Ukraine on Sunday.

The 23-year-old’s injury record is becoming a huge concern for both club and country having missed the World Cup due to injury and being out for Chelsea during important games this campaign.

England manager Gareth Southgate will provide an update on the defender’s situation but the latest development will be of huge worry to Graham Potter who faces a season-defining month after the international break with games against Liverpool and Real Madrid coming up.

Reece James was introduced late in the tense 2-1 victory of Italy which kicked off the Euro 2024 qualifiers- and was hoping to get more minutes against Ukraine, but a fresh injury has meant he’s had to leave camp and return to Chelsea to get proper treatment.

In total James has missed 24 games for both club and country this campaign- managing just 23 games but he was crucial for the important 2-0 win over Dortmund at Stamford Bridge which secured progression to the quarter final stage of the Champions League and a date against Real Madrid.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter would have thought he was turning the corner with injuries as midfielders N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and forward Raheem Sterling all expected to return in the coming weeks. Defender Wesley Fofana and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy are also making progress with their respective injuries.