Reece James set for months on sidelines following new hamstring injury

Chelsea captain Reece James is set to see a hamstring specialist in a bid to get to the bottom of his latest such injury setback, but he is unlikely to return to action until February at the earliest.

James has a history of hamstring problems and limped from the pitch during the first half of Chelsea's Premier League defeat to Everton on Saturday. Already this season, he has missed two months of action with a similar issue suffered during the opening game in August.

It is being widely reported that James is expected to miss around three months of football and will not be able to return until the end of February or beginning of March.

James has an appointment with a specialist on Tuesday, which will include a scan to fully understand what the problem is. The 24-year-old's rehab will also be determined by the verdict, although his recovery might not be a simple one.

Having also suffered various ankle and knee problems in recent years, James is estimated to have missed 35 games – close to one full Premier League season – as a result of hamstring injuries alone.

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino rued the latest setback given the impact of losing such a key and influential player at a time when the Blues are in the midst of a major team-building project.

"Of course for us he is an important player, one of the best full-backs in the world," Pochettino reflected. "We are disappointed because when you believe you can build something and a player like him who should be really important for us can’t help the team."

Unfortunately for Chelsea, secondary right-back Malo Gusto continues to be absent as well, creating a hole on that side of the defence that needs filling in other ways. Marc Cucurella has been pulled across from the left at times in recent months, but with Ben Chilwell also sidelined, it has meant centre-back Levi Colwill pushed wide as a replacement for him. Fellow centre-back Axel Disasi has also been used as a right-back on occasion. But no solution is ideal for Pochettino.

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