**Chelsea captain Reece James is currently on the treatment table with a knee injury, and manager Xabi Alonso says the problem is being monitored “week by week”.**
The right-back missed the defeat to Brentford before the international break due to a minor hamstring issue, but he managed to pick up a [**completely different injury**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-injury-news-reece-james-fans-2/) in the interim.
Alonso’s wording suggests that James is managing a chronic problem, and that raises question marks over how many games he will play over the coming weeks.
He could be back in the matchday squad for the clash against Everton this weekend, but that is not guaranteed.
**Expected Return Date – Unknown**
The winger sustained an ankle injury whilst playing for England’s Under-21s. Asked when fans can expect the player to make a comeback, Alonso said:
“He is going to be out for a few weeks.”
Alonso was speaking last Friday, so that would indicate that Gittens is on course to return before the end of this month.
“A few weeks” is a rather vague estimate, so the winger may well be out for longer, but for now, it seems like he could be back in the squad to face Spurs at Stamford Bridge.
**Expected Return Date – Saturday 31st October vs Tottenham (h)**
Emmanuel Emegha
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The striker’s current fitness status remains rather unclear. Alonso’s last update on the Dutchman came before the international break when he said that he would not be ready to face Brentford.
Since then, Emegha has been pictured back in first-team training, but he was not included in the matchday squad for the 5-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
It could well be the case that the decision not to select the forward was unrelated to his fitness.
Emegha is currently behind Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck in the pecking order up front.