Marcos Alonso should return in time to face Arsenal but Reece James won’t, according to Chelsea boss Frank Lampard in an injury update.

Marcos Alonso only came back from injury for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, after missing over a month of football. He won a penalty in their 2-0 win, but picked up an injury ruling him out of the next game against Southampton.

Reece James also featured in the final 10 minutes of the win over Spurs. The young right-back edged his way into Chelsea’s Premier League team over the last few months. He picked up an injury problem after the London derby too though.

In his post-Southampton press conference, Frank Lampard suggested Alonso should return for the Arsenal game, but James won’t.

“Marcos Alonso picked up a muscle injury against Tottenham but hopefully he’ll be back for Arsenal,” Lampard said. “Reece James won’t. He has an ankle issue at the moment.”

Chelsea having a couple of injury concerns in the full-back positions isn’t much of an excuse for them on Sunday. Arsenal could well have all three full-time full-backs out for the game.

Bukayo Saka and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are likely to fill in again. Hopefully, they’re up to the task against whichever Chelsea full-backs and wingers they face.