Chelsea injury news: Wesley Fofana will have surgery after rupturing his ACL in another fitness setback for the Blues ahead of pre-season
Reece James has sent a message of support to fellow Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana after the 22-year-old was confirmed as needing surgery on his Antior Cruciate Ligament in his knee.
It is a setback likely to rule him out for a lengthy spell once more, less than two years after he broke his leg while playing for Leicester. Fofana has a plagued injury record and also missed time out of last season with several re-occuring problems.
His latest issue has come at a terrible time though, with Chelsea preparing for the 2023/24 season under Mauricio Pochettino on their tour of America.
Fofana will miss the tour after not being named in the 29-man squad that flew to America on Monday. He will now need an operation on his knee after the club confirmed the serious nature of his injury.
"Defender Wesley Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery," a statement reads.
"The 22-year-old did not travel to America for the club's pre-season tour due to specialist medical assessments, which unfortunately confirmed that an operation would be required.
"Wesley will now begin his recovery and work with the club's medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase."
He wrote on Instagram alongside an image of the two of them: "I'm with you brother. I know you'll be back stronger." Aimed at Fofana, James has also had setbacks of his own over the past two seasons and was forced to spend much of last campaign on the treatment bed with hamstring and knee problems himself.
There is hope that James will be fit to take a fully active role in the upcoming matches in America though, with the 23-year-old also writing online: "C you soon [American flag emoji]."
James will meet up with a young group of players picked by Pochettino including fellow academy graduates Eddie Beach, Bashir Humphreys and Alfie Gilchrist.
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