Xabi Alonso has provided insights into Reece James' injury ahead of Chelsea's upcoming match against Everton. Following a successful operation, the club captain will miss several weeks of action. However, Alonso affirmed that this setback will not change Chelsea's plans for the January transfer window.
What can you tell us about James' injury?
We're all quite disappointed, especially Reece himself. He was eager to kick on after the international break, but unfortunately sustained an injury during our last training session.
We opted for caution and decided to wait for the assessment results. The operation went well, thankfully.
We'll continue to support him. He's a significant presence in the team, even when he can't play.
I wish him a speedy recovery. We aren’t setting specific timelines, but he will be out for a few weeks.
There's speculation he might miss around three months. What timeframe are you anticipating?
We don't have exact timelines. He will certainly miss several weeks.
It's not going to be a short stint — definitely not just two or three weeks. It will take longer.
We'll see how things unfold. Whether it's before or after Christmas remains to be seen.
We must handle this correctly. The most important thing is for him to feel good and return in peak condition.
Of course, it's disappointing for everyone, most of all for him. But we have a squad capable of coping with injuries.
How do you assess your midfield options during this period?
Before the next international break, we have four league matches and one cup game to navigate.
I believe we can manage this stretch well with the players we have.
We have those who have already featured, along with other available options, so we feel confident.
Will Reece's injury influence your approach to the January transfer window? Does the club need to bring in another player for this position?
No, I don't think so.
We expect he will return by that time, potentially even a few weeks before the window opens.
While we don’t have definitive timelines, this situation won’t affect our transfer plans.
Reece is still a vital player for you, but how challenging is it for a manager to deal with his recurring availability issues over the past two years?
He remains an incredibly important player.
As our captain, he has a tremendous impact on the team.
I hope that after recovering from this injury, he can feature in many matches ahead.
He's working hard with the right mindset, and we definitely need him.
Are there any updates this week regarding other injured players?
No news on that front.
