Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be delighted that he has had Reece James available for selection for a prolonged period of games for the first time as manager.
The club captain has now been available for selection since the 30th of December, with the prayers that the worst of his injury issues now hopefully behind him.
James is quietly beginning to look like the player he did a few years ago too. The recent Conference League Round of 16 game saw James put in a player of the match display.
The England international found the net from distance to get them on their way to a 2-1 win, and in the last two starts has operated in a new position as far as his Blues career goes.
He has lined up in central midfield alongside the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, perhaps a sign that there is more trust from the coaching staff in his fitness to play a more demanding role.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Reece James says he will improve as midfielder at Chelsea
Maresca stated after the win in Denmark that he had always seen the skipper as a midfielder, however had not really had the opportunity to play him there due to injury concerns.
He said to Football London: “You can ask Reece, when I signed for Chelsea, the day after I sent him a video about seeing him as a midfielder. I see Reece as a midfielder.
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“Since day one. I sent him a clip when he was on holiday about how he can be a midfielder. He has played in full-back, central defender, so the main target for us is to keep him fit.”
James has claimed that he will improve playing more in his new position, however does have experience there, particularly from his time on loan at Wigan in the Championship.
He said: “I’m not the decider of the position I play. It’s up to the manager, where he wants to set people up and the rest is down to us. It’s a role that I’m fairly used to and with time playing there, I will improve.”
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Pundits thoughts on James as a midfielder
Given the Englishman was previously seen as arguably the best right-back in world football, moving him away from that role could be seen as a negative move by Maresca.
However, Martin Keown has praised the idea, saying that it could be the perfect thing to do for a player who is prone to injuries.
“It’s interesting that Reece James has sort of been a reincarnation in a position he had as a kid. He went on loan to Wigan as a young player and played in that role. To see him score there is really good news.
“I think that’s the right way to do it because at full-back we seem to be in an era of hamstring [injuries]… I think it’s more up and down. There’s not the high intensity runs that you’re going to make as a full-back. Actually, he does really well in there, as his goal showed tonight. He can score goals. He’s going to have to reinvent himself.”
"He's going to have to reinvent himself"
Martin Keown was impressed with Reece James's performance in midfield, a position he excelled in earlier in his career 💪
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The Chelsea Chronicle have predicted James will be rested against Leicester, where another midfielder could make his return to the squad.
Maresca confirmed Romeo Lavia could make the bench to face the Foxes, however maintaining his fitness would be a priority as he returns from a long-term absence.