Both Chelsea and Everton could be without a number of stars due to injuries
Chelsea could be without up to five players when they take on Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend.
With this news, Xabi Alonso’s team received a big blow Reece James he will be sidelined for the next few months after surgery.
The Blues captain recently underwent successful minor surgery on a knee injury he sustained in the build-up to last weekend’s win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
James has since embarked on a rehabilitation programme, working closely with the club’s medical staff at Cobham as he begins his road to recovery.
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Speaking to reporters at the Cobham training ground on Friday afternoon, the Chelsea manager sent James a classy message.
Alonso said: “We are all disappointed, especially for him. In the last training session. He was injured. He will be close to the team and he has a big impact.
“We wish him a good recovery. We’re not giving a timetable. It won’t be short; it will be a few weeks. We’ll see before Christmas, after Christmas.”
James isn’t the only one absent Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emega he also came out with injuries. Speaking about the latter of the two, Alonso said: “He is not ready for tomorrow; yesterday he felt something, something small.
“He will train next week but is still not 100 per cent fit to play in the game. [against Everton].”
As for Everton, they could be without two key players Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaly Mikolenko Doubts for the game against the Blues.
In his pre-match press conference, David Moyes said: “Jarrad had a problem. He understood very quickly. [against Hull].
“We were looking at it during the week. Miko is playing better. Miko has a chance for the game.”