It has been revealed that Reece James has had a precautionary scan on his knee, after feeling pain ahead of the start of pre-season earlier this week.
However, it does not look to be as bad as it first sounded with the Evening Standard reporting that James should be able to play some part in Chelsea’s busy three-week tour, which will help Pochettino’s slimmed-down squad be ready to face Liverpool at home on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
As well as James, four other Chelsea players were left out of the start of the Blues’ pre-season tour.
Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are not expected to make the Blues’ squad, along with Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is training with the Under-21s
It is Chelsea’s hope that all four players will be sold during the summer transfer window as Pochettino looks to make some major cuts to his side.
Matteo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kalidou Koulibaly have already left Chelsea this summer, with Christian Pulisic also looking set to join Loftus-Cheek in the Serie A with AC Milan.
