Chelsea are reeling after tough losses to two quality opponents in important games, first falling 5-2 to PSG in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg before getting blanketed 1-0 by Newcastle in a putrid Premier League display.
Now, things are getting even worse for the Blues on the injury front, as Simon Johnson of The Athletic reports that veteran right back (and center midfielder) Reece James suffered a hamstring injury against the Magpies and will reportedly have to miss several weeks.
That means James is obviously out for the crucial second leg against PSG, almost dooming the Blues to an early Champions League exit. But he could also miss games against Manchester City and Manchester United if his absence extends far enough into April.
Malo Gusto is one of the best right backs you could have as a replacement for the starter, but he is much worse than James defensively and way more inconsistent. He is better on paper than in reality.
This is a huge blow to a shaky Chelsea defense, and the leadership factor left behind by James in this squad is another major problem. He cannot come back soon enough.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.