{"id":1101654,"date":"2019-08-14T20:45:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T19:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1101654"},"modified":"2019-08-14T17:34:39","modified_gmt":"2019-08-14T16:34:39","slug":"reece-james-pathway-chelsea-first-team","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/reece-james-pathway-chelsea-first-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Reece James: The pathway to Chelsea’s first team is always there \u2013 if you’re good enough"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea starlet\u00a0Reece James has explained how first-team football is always available to youngsters at the club, providing they are good enough.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 19-year-old is yet to register a senior appearance for the Blues but looks set to play an important role this season after the club rejected multiple offers from Premier League sides this summer.<\/p>\n

Is James the latest academy star in west London? Five things to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  • James spent 2018\/19 on loan with Wigan Athletic, featuring 46 times across all competitions.<\/li>\n
  • He clinched the players\u2019 and fans\u2019 Player of the Year awards.<\/li>\n
  • He was also\u00a0named in the Championship team of the season.<\/li>\n
  • He has previously captained\u00a0Chelsea\u2019s U18s team to back-to-back Premier League and FA Youth Cup trophies.<\/li>\n
  • James is now hoping he can stake a claim in the first-team fold this season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7336082-10-predictions-for-the-2019-20-premier-league-season<\/p>\n

    He rose to prominence last season during a year-long loan spell with Wigan Athletic, where his defensive showings saw him earn the\u00a0Latics’ ‘Player of the Year’ accolade.<\/p>\n

    And his time in the Stamford Bridge spotlight could come sooner rather than later after the horror performance of Cesar Azpilicueta in Chelsea’s 4-0 collapse against Manchester United prompted Frank Lampard to hint at a\u00a0“big”<\/a> role for James this campaign, something the youngster believes is possible at a club like Chelsea.<\/p>\n

    He told the Independent<\/a>: “It\u2019s great to have people coming through the academy on a similar journey to me.<\/p>\n

    “I\u2019ve known Callum [Hudson-Odoi] for over 10 years and seen him play for the club and realise his dream.<\/p>\n

    “At the start of this season, you could argue he wasn\u2019t getting as much game time as he wanted, but he showed that if you\u2019re good enough, the pathway is always there.<\/p>\n

    “I never thought it would be too hard to break into the first-team.<\/p>\n

    “Now I\u2019ve just got to hope I\u2019ll get my chance and, when I do, I\u2019ll do everything to take it and earn that recognition.”<\/p>\n