Chelsea captain Reece James is “hopeful of being back” in full training next month, according to The Athletic.

The right-back underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in December and it was expected that he would be out for around four months.

It does appear that James may be slightly ahead of schedule in his recovery, as he has already started light training.

The Athletic have, though, emphasised that Chelsea are “wary about rushing him back to action too soon.”

It’s been a disastrous campaign for James

The defender’s season has been effectively ruined by this ongoing issue with his hamstring. He originally picked up the injury on the opening day of the season during the 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

However, rather than undergoing an operation, the club’s medical team decided to opt for more conservative treatment that forced James to miss nine games.

That proved to be the wrong decision as he pulled up again with exactly the same injury in a 2-0 defeat to Everton less than two months later.

A Chelsea injury update

The Blues have seven other players on the treatment table. The latest to be sidelined is Thiago Silva, who injured his groin in the second half of the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Monday evening.

Benoit Badiashile (groin) is not expected to return to action until next month, along with the likes of Romeo Lavia (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) and Marc Cucurella (ankle).

Wesley Fofana, meanwhile, is said to be close to finishing his rehabilitation following an anterior cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out since pre-season.

The closest to making his comeback is believed to be Robert Sanchez. The Spaniard has not played since picking up a knee injury over two months ago; having to be substituted against Everton, the same match where James picked up his injury.