James (hamstring) picked up a minor injury Friday and was subsequently left out of Chelsea's squad for Saturday's Premier League clash against Bournemouth, according to coach Xabi Alonso, per Peter Rutzler of The Times.
Analysis:James has suffered another fitness setback after recently returning to training following the hamstring injury that kept him out of Chelsea's previous Premier League match against Brentford. The defender had been considered an option to return Saturday, but a minor injury sustained Friday ultimately ruled him out for a second consecutive league fixture. It remains unclear whether the latest issue is related to his previous hamstring problem or represents a separate injury. Given his injury history, Chelsea could take a cautious approach to his recovery, with his availability for the next match depending on further assessments.
