Chelsea Fans Worried as Key Player Misses Training Ahead of Everton Clash

According to Football London on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Chelsea fans have been left concerned after captain Reece James was not seen during the opening 15 minutes of the club’s training session, raising fresh questions about his fitness ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Everton.

The latest development comes after Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that the England international was dealing with a minor knee problem that needed to be monitored carefully. James reportedly picked up the issue on Friday, prompting the club to assess his condition before deciding when he could return to action.

According to reporter James Savundra, James was not among the players visible to the media during the opening segment of Tuesday’s training session. Journalists were allowed to watch the first 15 minutes, but the Chelsea captain was not seen with the rest of the squad.

His absence has attracted attention because Chelsea are preparing for another important Premier League fixture. The Blues are scheduled to face Everton on Saturday, and supporters will be hoping their captain can recover in time to be considered for selection.

Alonso had previously explained that James’s condition would be monitored on a week-by-week basis. This suggests that Chelsea are taking a careful approach to his recovery rather than rushing him back before he is fully ready.

James remains an important player for Chelsea because of his leadership, defensive ability and attacking contributions from the right side of the pitch. His presence can provide the team with additional strength, experience and balance, particularly in difficult away matches.

However, his absence from the media-visible section of training does not automatically mean that he has suffered another injury or that his recovery has suffered a setback. Players who are not seen during an open training session may be working separately, following individual programmes or simply participating in parts of the session that are not available to journalists.

Chelsea have yet to provide a definitive public update confirming whether James will be available for the Everton match. His condition will therefore remain a major talking point among supporters as they await further information from the manager.

The Blues will be hoping their captain makes sufficient progress to return to the squad as soon as possible. However, the club must also ensure that he does not return prematurely and risk aggravating the problem.

For now, Chelsea fans will have to wait for further clarification from Alonso regarding the defender’s fitness.

Latest update: Reece James was not visible during the opening 15 minutes of Chelsea’s training session on Tuesday, October 13. His return date remains uncertain, and there is no confirmed information that he has suffered a new injury.