Chelsea right-back Reece James appears to be on the path to recovery after a significant injury. He has begun his rehabilitation and has hinted at a potential return to action.

A social media video of the Englishman recently surfaced on the internet, capturing the right-back running on a treadmill, strapped up and monitored by rehabilitation technology.

However, what truly captured the attention of many observers was the remarkable physical transformation of Reece James.

The impact of the injury was evident in Reece James’s physical appearance, as he appeared noticeably leaner than before, suggesting that he may have lost a significant amount of muscle weight during his recovery period.

The 24-year-old’s physique was known to be quite impressive. The former Wigan player is built like a robust tank, carrying plenty of muscle without sacrificing mobility. Standing at 5’10”, Reece James isn’t the tallest, but he’s quite a big guy, maintaining a reported weight of 91 kg.

So, seeing the Cobham graduate looking so lean is undeniably attention-grabbing for the public eye. As he continues his rehabilitation, Reece James will undoubtedly face the challenge of regaining his strength.

That’s the leanest I’ve ever seen Reece

— MAH (@matissearmani) March 1, 2024

Reece James Injury Timeline and Possible Return Date

The Blues captain has had rotten luck with hamstring injuries over the past 12 months, with the fullback having already missed nearly a full season due to hamstring injuries over the past four years.

His latest setback occurred during the Blues’ 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park last December, where he was forced off after just 27 minutes of play.

After careful evaluation of clinical assessments and available treatment options, Reece James made the decision to undergo Surgery, viewing it as essential to prevent future setbacks. With the surgery underway, James’s appearances this season have been severely restricted to just eight.

Moreover, the surgery necessitated a longer rehabilitation program. The 24-year-old missed part of last season, featuring only 16 times due to a hamstring issue in what was another injury-hit campaign.

He also missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after suffering knee ligament damage. In total, the 24-year-old has missed 53 of Chelsea’s last 86 games in all competitions.

What the doctors say

Reece James underwent a successful surgery for his injured hamstring, overseen by Dr. Lasse Lempainen, a renowned sports medicine specialist from Turku, Finland.

Dr. Lempainen provided assurance that James would make a robust recovery and be fully fit in time for the Euros next summer.

In an interview with The Telegraph, the doctor elaborated on the success of the operation: “The surgery gives Reece a better chance of staying fit and not having a recurring problem. I am very convinced that Reece will be in top shape before the European Championships,” said Lempainen.

“Chelsea will decide on how long he takes, but more likely, we are talking about that kind of period [three to four months].” The 45-year-old surgeon added.

“We will try to do our best during the rehab process to assess the risk factors in Reece’s left hamstring and try to help his strength, mobility, and sprinting technique, so Reece can enjoy high-level football again.”

And rightly so. After a couple of months since the surgery, James seems to be recovering well from his latest setback, although the club is reticent to put a timeframe on his recovery.

The initial expectation was that he would be out for at least three months post-surgery, which would take him to mid-March. Given the international break after Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter-final with Leicester City over the weekend of March 16, it is likely he will not be back in action until April.

What Pochettino says

Asked for a date on James’ return, Pochettino said: “I cannot say the date of when it’s possible. The most important thing now is to build his confidence, his physical condition, to recover all the good feelings.

“His target and our target are for him to be fit and feel happy and well. Then we’ll see about the possibility of going to the Euros or not, or to be ready for next season or to play before we finish this season.”

“The target is to build again his confidence and to feel strong, then to start to play when he feels strong and can deal again with the competition.”

Having said that, Reece James appears eager to return to the pitch as soon as possible, as indicated by his recent social media activity hinting at an imminent comeback.

The captain shared several pictures of himself undergoing rehabilitation exercises and gym trainings, accompanied by the caption “All these setbacks I took would break you, the comeback is coming.” His Chelsea teammates, including Chukwuemeka, Madueke, and Sterling, expressed their anticipation for his impending return by commenting under the post.

It looks like with this summer’s European Championships on the horizon, James would yet bring an return before that. However, before that, he must focus on fully recovering his physical condition and incorporating muscle-building training in the gym.

Maybe Chelsea fans have to wait until next season for the return of their captain with the hope that this time around, there will be far fewer injury scares to worry about.