Xabi Alonso says Reece James will not be rushed back from injury
Xabi Alonso says Reece James will not be rushed back from injury
The Argentine was clattered by Jarrad Branthwaite at the Hill Dickenson Stadium, and he was stretched off the field and sent straight to hospital on Merseyside.
The former Arsenal and Aston Villa shot-stopper took to social media to confirm that he had had surgery on a broken jaw, and as a result, he will be out for an extended period.
He was replaced by Mike Penders over the weekend, and the Belgian is expected to start between the sticks once more as the Blues take on London rivals Tottenham on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso will be forced to name a new substitute goalkeeper on his bench, however, thanks to Penders’ accelerated promotion to the club’s interim No1.
The 23-year-old hails from Leicester, and came through Burton Albion’s academy system.
He joined Chelsea in 2020, being sent straight back to Burton on loan, and he has since had spells at Havant and Waterlooville, Bromley, Doncaster Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.
Sharman-Lowe spent the first half of the 2025/26 season keeping goal for the Trotters before he was recalled by his parent club in January.
He started two of the Blues’ pre-season friendlies in the summer: the 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers and the 2-1 defeat by Tottenham Down Under.
Last season, in his 22 League One games for Bolton, he kept six clean sheets.