James had only recently returned to play in October after missing the beginning of the season.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca announced on Thursday that the 24-year-old England right-back will not participate in the upcoming Premier League match at the King Power Stadium.
Maresca expressed hope that the injury will not sideline James for an extended period; however, considering the captain's recent injury history, he is cautious about taking any chances.
“Reece, unfortunately, experienced a minor issue, and we don’t want to take any risks this weekend,” Maresca informed the media.
“Hopefully, it’s not a long-term concern. He felt something, so he needs to sit out, and we’ll assess the situation. It’s related to his hamstring, a muscle issue.”
James has faced challenges with fitness over the past two seasons, but Maresca remains optimistic that he can eventually overcome his injury struggles.
“Absolutely,” he stated. “But at this moment, it’s not happening.”
Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill withdrew from international duty with England during the recent break due to fitness issues. Additionally, Maresca has uncertainties regarding the availability of Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, and Jadon Sancho.
“Some of them are improving, while others will undergo tests today,” he commented on Chelsea's injured players.
England captain Harry Kane expressed his disappointment with the nine players who chose to skip international duty, emphasizing that representing the Three Lions should take precedence over all else.
There were claims that some managers had encouraged their players to refrain from joining the national team to prevent injuries during this hectic period of the season.
When asked if he had communicated with the England camp regarding the withdrawals of Palmer and Colwill, Maresca replied, “To be honest, we played against Arsenal, and then I was away for a week.”
Maresca is set to return to Leicester for the first time since leading the Foxes to promotion from the Championship last season, before leaving to take over from Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
This occasion will be particularly emotional for Maresca, who stated, “I’m excited and also grateful.
“It was a fantastic season because I met good people and in terms of players it was fantastic.
“We had a fantastic connection between the players and staff, this is something you need to create when you want to make something important.
“I will be thankful to them all my life, we have a special connection.”