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Reece James and injuries have unfortunately been a recurring theme throughout his time at Chelsea.

The Blues’ campaign is at risk of ending on a disappointing note following a series of heavy defeats.

After being knocked out of the Champions League last 16 with an 8-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain, Liam Rosenior’s side have suffered back-to-back 3-0 defeats in the Premier League — first to Everton and then to Manchester City.

It has become increasingly evident that Chelsea are missing the leadership and influence of their captain, Reece James.

James has been sidelined since picking up a familiar hamstring injury in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle last month.

The club had been carefully managing his playing time to reduce the risk of repeated setbacks that have troubled past seasons, but he has now been out of action for several weeks.

Providing a positive update ahead of Saturday’s crucial Premier League meeting with Manchester United, Rosenior offered some encouraging news.

“Reece has been running today, which is great,” the Chelsea manager said on Monday.

Although his return to full fitness may still take some time, Chelsea remain cautious and are determined not to rush him back into the squad too early.

With an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds scheduled for late April — their last opportunity to secure silverware this season — the Blues are keeping that fixture in mind as they plan his recovery.

They also face key league fixtures in May, including a crucial encounter against top-five rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

Chelsea will hope to have James back at full strength for the final stretch of the season as they aim to finish strongly with a trophy and a Champions League qualification spot.

James, meanwhile, will be mindful of the upcoming World Cup and will want to avoid any further injuries to ensure his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

It appears unlikely he will feature against Manchester United this weekend, but fans can expect to see him back on the pitch in the near future.