Chelsea injury news: Thomas Tuchel provides Reece James update after England squad announcement

Chelsea skipper Reece James appears apt to miss Friday's Premier League fixture against Brentford.

At his pre-match property league connected Thursday, Xabi Alonso was extremely coy implicit the fitness of respective of his Blues squad.

However, contempt his comments to the media, a study rapidly emerged which suggested that Joao Pedro had been ruled retired of the travel to the Gtech Community Stadium with a genu injury.

While Danny Welbeck tin deputise for the Brazil planetary arsenic he bids to execute a vocation first, Chelsea's midfield issues are much complex.

As good arsenic Moises Caicedo having played conscionable 14 minutes this play and Jordan Henderson lone precocious returning to grooming aft a breached wrist, James has missed astatine slightest 1 grooming league this week.

Tuchel leaves James retired of England squad

On Friday morning, the Chelsea prima was near retired of Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the upcoming 4 matches successful the UEFA Nations League.

With the 26-year-old having been a regular successful Alonso's midfield during the opening period of 2026-27, his omission came arsenic a surprise.

Nevertheless, erstwhile mentioning a fig of names who could not beryllium contiguous successful his England squad owed to injury, Tuchel included James.

Despite Alonso hinting that James had lone been near retired of grooming earlier this week arsenic a precaution, the comments from Tuchel person painted a antithetic picture.

How could Chelsea's midfield look against Brentford?

Chelsea person already missed the beingness of Caicedo this season, truthful the lack of James successful the motor country would correspond a large blow.

Alonso would fundamentally beryllium near with Romeo Lavia, Henderson, Valentin Barco and Malo Gusto arsenic his options for the 2 roles successful his 3-4-2-1 formation.

With Lavia and Gusto having started the 4-3 triumph implicit Brighton & Hove Albion earlier successful the season, that is the apt pairing for the crippled astatine Brentford.

Barco is an alternate to Gusto, portion Henderson whitethorn beryllium earmarked to regenerate Lavia, who has not played longer than 69 minutes successful a Premier League this season, during the 2nd half.