Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking to the media ahead of Chelsea’s huge match against Tottenham and he has emphasised how important Reece James is for the club.
Chelsea are 11th in the Premier League and need to start picking up some consistent wins if they want to finish in the top five this season.
Losing in their last match to Brentford did not help, and things do not get much harder as they now face Spurs, who are undefeated and top of the Premier League.
Reece James began his road to full fitness by starting and playing 60 minutes in the Carabao Cup win this week over Blackburn, and he could feature against Spurs.
Mauricio Pochettino admits Reece James is key for Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino will feel the pressure of this upcoming match against his former club, and he needs his best players available.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the huge London derby, Pochettino was asked about Reece James and whether he could be made available. He provided a fitness update on the player but also stressed how key he is to the team as said: “I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll see if he’s available. It was good for him to start a game after a few months, he’s a very important player.”
James, who is on £250k-a-week, captains the Blues when he is fully fit. His leadership qualities, combined with his attacking threat make him a vital player at Chelsea.
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
It would have been great to see him return from his long-term injury. Hopefully the right-back can stay fully fit.
If James can return to the starting lineup against Spurs, then fans will definitely feel a lot more confident about the result.
This London derby sees form go out the window, and Pochettino will be hoping he can get the three points from the match.