Chelsea will once again be sweating over the fitness of defender Reece James ahead of their tie against Aston Villa later this week. The right-back has been a key player since bursting into the first-team a few years ago, but his absences have begun to cause concerns as they become more and more frequent.
The 23-year-old has often impressed with his defensive capabilities alongside his ability to carry the ball up the field and cause problems in an attacking sense. It comes as little coincidence that the Blues have experienced dips in form over recent seasons after James was sidelined for a period of time.
"I think Reece is just a fantastic player, and he’s a young player, so he’s developing all the time," head coach Graham Potter said on the Cobham academy graduate earlier this season. "He’ll get better and better as we go. I’ve really enjoyed working with him, he’s got a lot to offer, he’s fantastic.
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"He could play any game in the world, he’s tremendous. My job is to help him reach his potential because his potential is beyond the sky. We love him. He’s so important for us. My job is to help him reach his potential, and his potential is he can be a Chelsea legend."
However, if injuries continue to plague James, then there may be concerns over how far he may be able to go for a Chelsea side that will want to be competing in all formats, every season. The latest worry comes from the England squad, which the defender has had to withdraw from with an ongoing issue.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate discussed the issue, claiming that James is being cautious after previous knocks: "Reece has gone back, he's not completely happy with how his leg feels.
"He was a little bit concerned about that earlier in the week. I think, probably, the injury after the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup has made him a little more cautious."
It remains to be seen whether he will be back in time for a huge clash against Aston Villa later in the week, but the Blues will be hopeful they can sort out any lingering injury concerns ahead of the next season and the ones that follow.
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