Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has urged Reece James to prioritize staying fit for the remainder of the season after his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. James made a dramatic impact by scoring the equalizer against Bournemouth after enduring a “lonely” period due to recurring hamstring injuries.
This season, James has been limited to just five Premier League appearances due to his injury woes. However, he recently made a comeback in Chelsea’s 5-0 victory over Morecambe in the FA Cup and came on as a substitute in their match against Bournemouth.
With Bournemouth leading 2-1 thanks to goals from Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo, James stepped up and scored a sensational free-kick in the 95th minute to salvage a point for Chelsea. It was his first Premier League goal since August 2022 when he found the net in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the game, James expressed his relief at being back on the pitch. He described his time on the sidelines as “lonely and frustrating” and expressed his happiness at being able to contribute to the team again.
Since making his Premier League debut in 2019, James has struggled with injuries and has never made more than 25 starts in a single top-flight campaign. In the current season, he has played only 31 games, with 22 of those being starts.
Maresca has set a target for James to maintain his fitness following his return. The coach also praised James’ set-piece abilities, comparing him to Chelsea’s leading goalscorer Cole Palmer.
“Reece can compare with Cole in terms of free-kicks because he is very good,” Maresca said. “We decided for Reece [to take it] and he scored, and we are all happy because at least we took a point. He deserved it, those moments are difficult for every player.”
Looking ahead, Chelsea will face Wolves in their next Premier League fixture on Monday before taking on reigning champions Manchester City on January 25. James’ fitness will be crucial as Chelsea aims to maintain their strong form in the league.
