Chelsea captain Reece James has suffered yet another injury setback, prompting Nigerians on social media to humorously liken him to the country’s frequently collapsing national grid.
The 24-year-old right-back has been ruled out of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Leicester City due to a hamstring issue.
James, who recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff, was deemed unfit after feeling discomfort during training.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the development during a press conference, stating, “Reece, unfortunately, felt something minor, and we don’t want to take any chances this weekend.”
Known for his immense talent, James has unfortunately battled numerous injuries over the past two seasons.
This reputation led to a wave of reactions on Nigerian Twitter, where users drew comparisons between James’ recurring fitness issues and the nation’s unstable power grid.
One user, Pablo of UNN, tweeting as @chudy_jnr, posted, “If the Nigerian National Grid was a football player, it would be Reece James.”
Another user, BASH-AAR, tweeting as @FaruqBashar, remarked, “The national grid has collapsed again, the one that plays for Chelsea.”
Others joked about his frequent hospital visits, with Mr. Right (@MrRightke), writing, “He’s had more hospital appearances than match appearances.”
While Chelsea fans hope for the defender’s speedy recovery, the comparisons have further fuelled discussions on social media about his durability.
Chelsea is also grappling with injuries to other key players, including Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, and Malo Gusto.
Maresca will be hoping to manage his squad’s fitness carefully as the busy football calendar rolls on.
