Chelsea to sweat on big injury concern ahead of Aston Villa clash

Chelsea captain Reece James has suffered another hamstring injury, but Enzo Maresca is hopeful he will be able to return to fitness before their clash with Aston Villa next weekend.

The right-back has been ruled out of the Blues' Premier League match at Leicester City on Saturday. He missed the start of the season through a hamstring problem and returned to action at the end of October in the defeat at Liverpool.

“It’s a hamstring issue, a muscle problem,” Maresca said on Thursday. “He felt something small and we don’t want to take any risks for the weekend.”

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Maresca added: “It was two days ago. He has to try and avoid as much as he can but sometimes things happen even if you want to avoid that. Hopefully he can be available for the next one but he is not available for this one.”

The 24-year-old picked up the problem in training this week as his struggles with injury continue. James only played only 11 games for Chelsea last season and made 24 appearances the year before.

Maresca is set to continue with French full-back Malo Gusto in the starting XI to face Leicester. Chelsea have no other fresh injuries, but Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill both withdrew from the England squad.

Asked about the duo's fitness, he said: "Some of them are better, some we will check today. On the whole, most are much better because of the break."