Thomas Tuchel Confirms Chelsea Star's Injury Status As Two Blues Are Called Up For England

Reece James looks set to miss Chelsea's Premier League clash against Brentford.

The Premier League takes a short break after the latest round of fixtures as the first of three international windows begins on September 21.

The Blues head across west London to take on an unbeaten Brentford side managed by Keith Andrews. New boss Xabi Alonso will likely learn a lot about his squad depth, as Chelsea look set to have multiple injury issues to contend with.

With Joao Pedro set to be sidelined for the next four weeks, according to reports out of Brazil, his absence only adds to Alonso’s list of players unavailable or doubtful.

Both Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra are nearing a return, but Brentford could come too soon for the duo. On September 14, it was reported that Reece James wasn’t spotted in open training for the media.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has provided an update on Chelsea’s captain, which could also have implications for the Blues’ trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.

Speaking at his squad announcement press conference, the former Chelsea boss confirmed that James wasn’t included in England’s squad due to an injury picked up in the last seven days.

The latest setback comes as a blow to the 26-year-old, as in the opening four matches of the season, Alonso has opted to use the Blues captain as a midfielder for both tactical reasons and to reduce the physical demands placed on a body that has already suffered many setbacks in his career.

Earlier this week, former Chelsea captain and club legend John Terry spoke out on his YouTube channel about the Cobham graduate’s time in midfield. He said:

“I think Reece is doing great in there but, like I said, I really prefer him, I think he’s the best right back in the world and I think he’s a bit of a miss while he’s playing in midfield at the moment.”

Since the departure of Enzo Fernandez on deadline day, James has been tasked with filling the void in midfield as the Blues continue to look thin in that area, while Jordan Henderson and Moises Caicedo continue to recover from their respective injuries.

The disappointment of failing to secure AS Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara could now be felt at Stamford Bridge, with Alonso having just Roméo Lavia and Valentin Barco to choose from as natural fits.

Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel has brought Cole Palmer back into the frame following his omission from the World Cup. He is joined by teammate Morgan Rogers, who has adapted to life quickly at Stamford Bridge, scoring three goals following his £117 million move from Aston Villa.

There was no room for Levi Colwill, as he continues to work his way back into the fold following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury picked up just days before the start of the 2025/26 season.