Graham Potter confirms huge Chelsea fitness blow before Leicester trip

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Graham Potter confirms huge Chelsea fitness blow before Leicester trip

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has confirmed that right-back Reece James will miss Saturday's trip to Leicester through illness.

James has only just returned from a knee injury and his rediscovery of his best form has coincided with Chelsea recording consecutive victories for the first time since October.

Unfortunately, Potter confirmed that James is back on the sidelines for a little while.

"Reece has been ill so hasn’t trained today," Potter told his pre-match press conference on Friday. "He won’t make the game tomorrow."

Asked for further team updates, Potter continued: "Raheem [Sterling] has had a little feeling in his hamstring, tightness if anything, so he's looking doubtful. [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang has a slight problem with his back and he's looking likely he will miss the game.

"[N'Golo Kante] won't be [involved], still needs more time to build up. We're aiming maybe for Everton. Unfortunately, not for tomorrow."

Potter, who also confirmed that Mason Mount is not ready to return from his injury either, admitted Sterling's absence in particular could open the door for winter signing Mykhailo Mudryk, who has begun the last four games on the bench and went unused during the victories over Leeds and Borussia Dortmund.

"He certainly comes into the equation," Potter said. "He is a player we believe in a lot and is adapting to the new situation.

"When he arrived, he was at the start of a pre-season campaign really. So to come in and hit the Premier League running is not easy to do. But day by day, and week by week, he is getting stronger. He will be in the squad tomorrow and there is a chance he can play."