Reece James, one of Chelsea's standout players, was instrumental in their vital win against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Following a lengthy absence, the Blues captain returned to the pitch last weekend at Liverpool, before being rested for the Conference League match against Panathinaikos. However, he was back in action when Chelsea hosted Newcastle at Stamford Bridge just a few days later.
Sunday saw the 24 year old complete a full 90-minute game for the first time since April 2023, where he made a significant impact with key blocks in the second half, aiding the hosts in their victory over the Magpies in SW6. James, a product of the Chelsea academy, has been plagued by multiple injuries over the past two-plus seasons.
During the 2022/23 season, James was sidelined for a total of 16 matches across all competitions due to injuries. The subsequent season saw him sustain a hamstring injury during the draw with Liverpool on the opening weekend, resulting in him missing nine matches before making his return.
However, disaster struck in December at Goodison Park. Another hamstring injury forced James off the field, leading him to decide that surgery was necessary.
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The Blues' captain underwent an operation on his hamstring, sidelining him until May of the following year, when he made a notable 11-minute appearance in the away victory at Nottingham Forest.
A few days later, Chelsea journeyed to the south coast and the Amex Stadium to take on Brighton. James was introduced as a second-half substitute as Mauricio Pochettino gradually reintegrated the right-back into action.
However, he received a straight red card, his second dismissal of the 2023/24 season, resulting in a four-game suspension that would extend into the next campaign.
James did accompany the squad to the United States during the summer as Enzo Maresca began working with the players he took over from Pochettino. Nevertheless, for the opening day loss to Manchester City, James was not available for selection.
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His ban would conclude after the third Premier League match against Crystal Palace, but by then, he had re-injured his hamstring. James made his comeback against Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the month, where he played approximately 53 minutes before being substituted - a move that was always part of Maresca's plan.
This allowed James to complete the full 90 minutes against Newcastle on Sunday - a significant milestone in his journey to full fitness. It is crucial for Maresca and his team to get James back to peak physical condition, but how can they achieve this?
Previous head coaches at Chelsea have attempted and ultimately failed to do so.
The Chelsea head coach, speaking on October 18, delved into player fitness issues, notably discussing Reece James: "It is complicated when you get injury, injury, injury again. It is not easy so you are always looking for a solution."
Elaborating further, the gaffer drew comparisons with other squad members: "Probably the solution with Reece is the same solution we are using with Romeo and Wes in terms of using them just once a week, in one game, because probably in this moment, for different reasons, Reece's body cannot play twice a week. One of the solutions is probably to try and manage him in the same way we are doing with Wes and Romeo."
Given that James alongside Lavia and Fofana started against Newcastle recently, it suggests they might sit out the upcoming Carabao Cup clash at Tyneside when the Blues confront the Magpies on Wednesday night.
