Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has had so many quality players to choose from this season.
As a result, several high-profile players have been left out of the Chelsea head coach‘s starting XI, including the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix.
Nkunku could now leave Chelsea after not featuring at all in the club’s Conference League final last week, while Felix is also likely to depart following his loan spell at AC Milan.
Because of injuries, Reece James, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia have missed a lot of games this term as well.
Tony Cascarino disappointed Reece James can only play one game a week for Enzo Maresca’s side
In the second half of the campaign, James has managed to put a run of games together, which has been a huge boost for Maresca.
However, he has not been able to play more than one match a week, and that has disappointed former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino.
“It’s a pity Reece James is not playing two games a week,” Cascarino said on talkSPORT. “He looks like he’s playing one and if he plays one he’s not going to play in the game midweek because he’s still recovering from a very bad injury.
“But Reece James is a terrific full-back when you see him at his best. He’s a real handful for lots of teams.”
Carlton Cole is also a fan of James, describing his assist for Marc Cucurella’s winner against Manchester United as “unbelievable”.
In total, the defender has made 27 appearances this season and can add to that when Chelsea kick off their Club World Cup campaign.
It is a vast improvement compared to last term, when James was only able to play 11 games under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
How Reece James is now starting to prove he’s a real captain
Overall, it has been a very good season for James. He has managed to get himself back on the pitch and has just won his first trophy as club captain.
As a captain, the right-back has also shown growth. Maresca criticised James earlier in the season for a lack of leadership, but it is something he has worked on.
James was even seen with Malo Gusto before the Conference League final kicked off, encouraging the 22-year-old who had replaced him in the side.
Instead of sulking about not starting the game, James showed real signs of being a leader as he gave some advice to a younger and more inexperienced colleague.
