Graham Potter chooses to leave 23-year-old Chelsea player out of the side vs Southampton
According to reports, Chelsea will not include Reece James in the squad for their Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday. The decision to rest James comes after the right-back has started the last three matches since returning from a knee injury.
Despite being one of Chelsea’s most important players, there are concerns that playing him too much could result in another injury, which has already occurred earlier this season.
With the team desperate to end their recent run of three consecutive draws, it remains to be seen how they will fare without James in the squad.
The Athletic is reporting that Graham Potter and his coaching staff have made the decision to exclude Reece James from Chelsea’s 20-man matchday squad for their upcoming match against Southampton.
It is believed that the England international has played more minutes than originally intended in recent weeks, with an hour against Fulham and consecutive 90-minute appearances against West Ham and Borussia Dortmund.
By resting James against Southampton, the Blues hope to ensure his availability for important upcoming fixtures against Tottenham and the second leg against Dortmund.
It’s understandable to feel that Reece James is a key player for Chelsea and that he should be playing in every match.
However, it’s important to balance the need for his contributions with the risk of him sustaining injuries due to an overloaded workload. Potter’s decision to rest James against Southampton may be a difficult one, but it’s ultimately a sensible choice to ensure his availability for upcoming important fixtures.
Moreover, given Chelsea’s strong squad, they should still be able to perform well without James in the lineup against struggling Southampton.
It’s also worth noting that James himself has acknowledged the need to manage his minutes carefully, making Potter’s decision to rest him this weekend a smart one.
Graham Potter chooses to leave 23-year-old Chelsea player out of the side vs Southampton
