Pochettino issues worrying update on James injury return

Mauricio Pochettino is unsure if Reece James, Chelsea’s captain, will play again this season. James, who is 24 years old, had surgery on his hurt hamstring in December and hasn’t been on the field since. Dr. Lasse Lempainen, who is in charge of James’s treatment, initially thought it would take three to four months for him to recover.

However, Pochettino, who has been without James for three months now, can’t say for sure if he’ll return before the season ends. When asked about an updated timeline, Pochettino said it’s hard to predict, and he doesn’t want to give false hopes. He mentioned they’ll evaluate James’s condition week by week and hope he’ll be back by the end of the season.

Pochettino also expressed uncertainty about the return of Christopher Nkunku. He explained that Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemka are on the injury list due to various reasons. Sanchez got injured during a match against Leicester, Carney picked up a small injury while away with the national team, and Trevoh’s situation seems promising, with high chances of him being available soon.

Throughout the season, Pochettino has had to deal with a significant number of injured players, ranging from seven to twelve per match. This has made it tough for him to achieve good results, with Chelsea currently sitting in 11th place in the Premier League.

Criticism has been directed at the club’s medical department, especially considering the number of injuries Chelsea has faced, which is 48 so far this season. Pochettino acknowledged the scrutiny but emphasized that they are working professionally to address the issues, although he couldn’t provide detailed explanations at the moment.

When asked if Chelsea is looking into their injury problems, Pochettino confirmed they are, but he didn’t elaborate further. He assured that they are a professional organization and are aware of the challenges they face.

Looking ahead, Pochettino sees the challenge of minimizing injuries as a priority for the next season. He aims for Chelsea to be in a better position, with fewer injury concerns, and a fully prepared squad ready to compete and perform well.