The defender is likely to be sidelined for the next eight weeks (Picture: Getty)
Graham Potter says Chelsea will offer Reece James all the support he needs after an injury picked up in the Champions League appears to have scuppered his World Cup hopes.
The defender suffered a knee injury against AC Milan on Tuesday night at the San Siro and saw a specialist on Saturday to ascertain the extent of the damage, with James now expected to be sidelined for the next eight weeks.
With the World Cup beginning in just over a month’s time – and with Gareth Southgate only willing to select fully fit players – James looks set to miss out on a place in the squad for Qatar.
When news of James’ lengthy lay-off broke, the 22-year-old took to social media with a post suggesting he still hoped to play at the World Cup, tweeting: ‘The race against time is on… but we won’t give up.’
Now Potter has revealed he has spoke to his defender on Saturday and he is naturally very disappointed with the injury prognosis, with Chelsea ready to offer him all the support he needs in his race to recover.
Speaking to Chelsea TV before Sunday’s clash against Aston Villa, Potter said of James’ injury blow: ‘It’s a big miss for us. We’re disappointed he’s out.
James was forced off in Chelsea’s win over AC Milan (Picture: Rex)
‘We are going to have to deal with that and help him get back fit as quickly as we can.
‘I spoke to him yesterday. He is disappointed to be out. We are going to have to deal with that and help him.’
England boss Gareth Southgate was actually at Villa Park for Sunday’s game and watched on as two of his players were involved in the opening goal with a dreadful header from Tyrone Mings gifting Mason Mount an easy tap in.
Speaking more generally about the game against Villa and his approach for the match, Potter said: ‘We want to be positive, we know we have to be balanced because Aston Villa have got attacking players as well.
‘We hope we’ve got the balance right. It’s about the team, how we attack and defend together. The boys are in a good place.’
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The defender is likely to be sidelined for the next eight weeks.