Enzo Maresca’s concerns over Reece James and what Chelsea boss will be thinking

Enzo Maresca has valid concerns about Reece James' captaincy skills, according to Jamie Carragher. It's been almost two years since the injury-prone Chelsea skipper completed a full competitive match - the second leg of a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid - during which time, the Blues have had three different head coaches.

Having recovered from his latest fitness issue, James started against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge last Sunday after making his comeback against Liverpool the previous week, though played out of position on the left-hand side of Maresca's defence. Chelsea emerged deserving 2-1 winners, and James produced a typically impressive performance, but questions have been raised about the relatively reserved 24-year-old's suitability as club captain.

Before the match, Maresca said that he 'expected more' from James in terms of leadership when wearing the armband, and Sky Sports analyst Carragher thinks the Chelsea boss is right on the money. "The goal that Chelsea conceded against Newcastle, I can imagine [Enzo] Maresca looking at that and saying, 'That's what I mean by Reece James'," Carragher said on The Overlap Fan Debate, sponsored by Sky Bet.

"He didn't scream, he didn't shout we know he's a fantastic player, but he's [Enzo] probably arrived at the club thinking, 'I don't know too much about him, I've heard about him, I've heard he's a top player'."

Maresca's comments ahead of the Newcastle game were eye-opening, and while the 44-year-old did sympathise with James' torridly unfortunate injury record, he said he expects more from his defender. "The only thing for us is that he has been injured. He's so important for us. In terms of leadership, I ask [for] more from him," Maresca told Sky Sports.

However, according to Carragher, James failed to deliver 'more' against Newcastle while ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said he feared the defender's quiet nature means he doesn't really suit being a club skipper. "The captain's role is quite important," Scholes said.

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"We had some unbelievable captains at Manchester United. Bryan Robson is someone you look up to with the stature, the presence, he looks after his players. Roy Keane these types of players. You look at Arsenal, you look at the great captains Tony Adams, Chelsea John Terry, Liverpool Steven Gerrard. All the big characters in the team, it's important for these young players to look up to that.

"Reece James doesn't look like a captain to me. He seems very quiet and shy. You can be captain like that, but he's just not the character you'd expect for a club the size of Chelsea football club. Off the pitch, they are big characters as well that people look up to. I don't see Cole Palmer as a captain."

When fit, James is one of Chelsea's most important players, but persistent injury problems are threatening to completely derail his career. He's played just twice in the Premier League so far this season and took to the field just 11 times in all competitions in the previous campaign.

In total, James has missed a whopping 129 Chelsea games through injury since breaking into the first team back in 2019/20, as well as countless opportunities to play for his country. Having had surgery on his troublesome hamstring in December 2023, both player and club were cautiously optimistic that his problems would be a thing of the past. But a hamstring strain in August knocked a lot of that confidence.

For now, James is being managed very carefully, with Maresca planning to use him just once per week. Because the last Chelsea need is for their skipper to spend another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

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