Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane was quick to praise Chelsea wingback Reece James after his performance against Manchester United last night.
The England international delivered a number of threatening balls into the box, including the one that Kai Havertz flicked on to Marcos Alonso to score the opener. He could also have gotten on the scoresheet himself, with a curling effort hitting the outside of the post. After the 1-1 draw, Keane hailed the 22-year-old’s ability:
“What a player Reece James is. He looks like a boxer. His distribution, movement, strength. He seems like a nice kid too. He’s a clever lad, could play in any position. Chelsea are a lucky club to have him. Outstanding.”
It is a testament to how important James has become to the Blues that manager Thomas Tuchel stated that his absence through injury was a key reason why they have fallen so far behind Manchester City and Liverpool in the table.
You do have to wonder what might have happened if the defender hadn’t been out for so long with hamstring injuries. Hopefully, from here on out, James can stay fit and play a key role for Chelsea going forward.
