Chelsea’s backline has been dealt a number of injuries over the past few seasons. In this campaign as well, Levi Colwill has been sidelined after an ACL injury in pre-season training. It is a good thing that the rest of the defenders who were missing from action last season seem to be getting back to full fitness, especially Chelsea captain Reece James.
The English international has been on and off the pitch for quite some time now due to various injury troubles. Nevertheless, when fit and in full flow, the 25-year-old is easily the first-choice right-back for the Blues ahead of Malo Gusto and Josh Acheampong.
James has also returned to the England national team picture. Following the Three Lions’ recent matchup in which they defeated Serbia 5-0, Micah Richards has spoken highly of James.
As reported by TBR Football, while appearing on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards said:
"Reece James over the two [England] games, he was outstanding.
“Imagine having a fully fit Reece James and a fully fit Trent [Alexander-Arnold] for the World Cup. It can cause you all sorts of damage.
“I felt a little bit sorry for Reece James because every time he gets himself fit, he gets a little niggle, but then it takes him a while to get back up to his best form. But he’s there.
“He’s slowly getting back to what he was when he was on fire. And his delivery, people talk about Trent’s delivery, which is magnificent, but also, Reece James’ delivery is very good, too. And he can defend."
Micah Richards is all praise about Chelsea’s Reece James
James has come from the Chelsea academy and was promoted to the first team in 2019. He has appeared in 193 matches for the Blues and that number would have been a lot higher if not for his injury problems.
James has slowly regained his form by the looks of it. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca is taking all the precautionary measures to avoid any further injury troubles as much as possible.
For example, in Chelsea’s last Premier League matchup before the international break, the 25-year-old was largely rested and subbed in only at the 81st minute. In the meantime Gusto is operating in the right-back position at times in place of James and is performing incredibly as well.
Anyway, Chelsea will be back in action on 14th September against Brentford and will look to continue their winning form. Moreover, James will be available to play, coming back after a successful spell for England. But expect him to be back on the bench again in place of Gusto, as the captain did start during the international break and could do with a rest.