Frank Lampard claimed that injured right-back Reece James will be a ‘big player’ for Chelsea after watching his team crumble to a 4-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
James, 19, returned to Stamford Bridge this summer following a hugely productive loan spell at Wigan Athletic in the Championship where he won two Player of the Year awards.
Such is the esteem with which James is held in by those at Chelsea, he has been tipped to challenge Cesar Azpilicueta for his place once he has recovered from an ankle injury sustained while playing for England U20s in June.
James is one of a number of players currently unavailable to Lampard and the new Chelsea manager suggested that the club’s injury list had been a factor in their defeat to United on the opening day of the Premier League season. Read more