Reece James presence shows injury update as Chelsea suffer double blow ahead of Manchester City league opener

Chelsea captain Reece James is a doubt for the game against Manchester City next week, but he turned up at Stamford Bridge to support his teammates against Inter Milan. James appeared unaided and even took the time to assure a fan that he was fine.

James joins Djordje Petrovic, who reported for pre-season last month but missed out on the trip to the United States due to a knock in training. The Serbian goalkeeper hasn’t been seen since, and with Chelsea signing Filip Jörgensen, Petrovic is likely to have lost his position in the team. Jörgensen is expected to be the number-one goalkeeper this season.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca did not hold a post-match press conference as the team wrapped up their pre-season preparations with a much-improved performance in what was his first game at Stamford Bridge.

James showing up at Stamford Bridge was likely a calculated move to send a message that the dressing room is united and that he is ready to support the squad even if he can’t contribute on the field.

Last season, James missed 151 days after undergoing surgery to correct a hamstring problem that had been restricting his game and caused him to miss both the World Cup and the Euros.

This summer, he started pre-season on fire, so this latest knock is a big blow to him. The expectation is that he will be back soon.

Chelsea, however, have solid cover in Malo Gusto, who has even been used at left-back in the absence of Marc Cucurella. Cucurella enjoyed an extended holiday after being a key member of the Spain team that won the Euros in Germany.

Last season, Chelsea finished sixth in the league, outside the desired Champions League spots. Maresca is now tasked with getting the club back to playing Champions League football.