Recently we asked you what one thing – good or bad – nobody is talking about at Chelsea and some of you suggested the impact of Reece James’ return.
It has been four weeks since his long-awaited comeback and, after featuring in all four Premier League games, it looks like the worst of his injury issues may be behind him (whisper it quietly).
But, the question is now – how does he best fit in the team?
The 24-year-old has played nearly 250 minutes so far, including two full games, but although he returned to his original right-back role in the first match, he took up the left-back position in the following two and then was only used as a late substitute in the final game before the international break.
When James was fully fit and playing consistently, there was always a worry among supporters of who could step in and perform at the same level if he was out of the team.
The emergence of Malo Gusto quelled many of those fears as he so easily managed to step up and make the role his own – despite being just 21 himself – featuring 37 times last season.
But with James’ natural quality and Gusto’s form, it has given boss Enzo Maresca a headache. The answer may lie in what the Italian wants from that position.
Due to the disparity in minutes played, comparing the two defenders statistics per 90 minutes in the league this season reveals their respective strengths.
Read on for the case for each, and make your selection in our poll here…
