Reece James joins up with Chelsea squad in US

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 21 July 2023

Reece James is back in the Chelsea squad after flying out to the United States to meet up with his teammates ahead of Sunday's friendly with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Reece James has been pictured in training with his Chelsea teammates in the United States as part of the club pre-season tour.

Chelsea played their first game on the trip Stateside against Wrexham on Wednesday evening, thrashing the League Two side 5-0.

James was absent from the side but his return to the squad may mean that he could play some part in their clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday night.

Chelsea will play another four games in the USA before returning home a week before they kick their Premier League campaign off against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on August 13.

Fellow Premier League opponents Newcastle United and Fulham await, before a match with Borussia Dortmund in Chicago will round off the tour.

A video posted from Chelsea's twitter account shows James in his training kit with a pair of boots, suggesting that he had taken part in some sort of training.

The right-back has not featured since Chelsea's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in mid-April, as James missed the final seven games of the season with a hamstring injury.

Reece James suffers an injury on December 29, 2021 © Reuters

James played just 16 league games last season, as numerous injuries scuppered his entire campaign, with Chelsea finishing down in 12th.

Another setback shortly after Christmas meant James missed the entire festive period and the rest of January, starting only seven Premier League games in 2023.

Cesar Azpilicueta was often the man who deputised, but he has since joined Atletico Madrid after 11 years at the Bridge.

Malo Gusto will represent James's competition at right-back now after he returned from Lyon, where he was sent back on loan after Chelsea signed him in January.

Gusto started along with many more of Chelsea's youngsters in the win over Wrexham, but that is where Chelsea's first-team options at right-back end.

James's arrival in the States suggests that he will play some part in the upcoming fixtures, as manager Mauricio Pochettino will hope to have him ready for the opening weekend of the season.