After three defeats in the league prior to the World Cup break, this was a welcome win. It places the Blues eighth in the table at the turn of the year, with 15 games played. However it was the condition of James that was the talking point after the game.

By being selected in the starting line-up against Bournemouth, he had made his return to competitive action following the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, but it lasted only a few minutes into the second half.

Speaking after the game, Graham Potter was not able to give a definite picture of the severity of the set-back although he confirmed the problem is in a similar area.

‘We will have to see over the next 24 to 48 hours,’ added the head coach. ‘At the moment it is a bit too soon, but he felt something there so we’ll wait to see the extent of it and keep our fingers crossed at the moment.

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• Our take on the game

‘Reece is disappointed of course, and at the moment we're just in a stage where we're hoping that it isn't as bad.

‘He's been really disappointed to miss the World Cup, it was a huge blow for him, and he wanted to give himself every chance to be in the squad. And you can see today with his quality, what he brings to the team.

‘So he's just had to deal with the injury and try to get back fit and I think he has done that well. I wanted to take steps and the plan was for him not to play 90 minutes tonight. He was to play 60 to 65 minutes, which is a build up from what he did previously. So now he's disappointed of course and we just want to hope that it's not as bad as it was. And then he can get on a speedy recovery.’

After a comfortable first half in which Chelsea scored goals through Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, Bournemouth came more into the contest in the second period. Potter thinks the James injury could have had an effect.

‘Reece was playing well and he's a top player. Believe me, if you've got top players it makes the coach's job a lot easier.

‘You could see the quality that Reece brings down that right side, in the first half especially, and then to see him go off I think probably affects the stadium and affects the team and affects everything.

‘Not that it’s an excuse but we're human beings and he's someone that we care a lot about and there's going to be a little bit of concern and worry. That's quite natural, especially with the results that we've had. You want to try and hold on to your win and that affected our performance in the second half.’