Speak to Chelsea fans about their full-back options, and one tends to garner far more excitement than the others: home-grown Reece James. An absolutely fantastic crosser of the ball, James is a technically proficient, hard-working attacking full-back who has the opportunity to really make an impact at Stamford Bridge.

He made an impressive 37 appearances last year, starting 26 of those games, and was involved in four goals – a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Expect those numbers to increase if Frank Lampard retains faith in the 20-year-old and gives him more consistent gametime.

What makes him so special?

A fantastic marauding full-back who can also defend, it’s fair to say that James is quite a complete little package. His passing and crossing are the quality you would expect of a deep-lying midfielder and a winger, respectively, and his set-pieces are absolutely outstanding. He’s a consistent player who can keep forcing chances due to his ability to take set-pieces and can work chances from open play.

Add in his solid long-distance shooting and his ability to graft back and forward, and he is a really modern full-back. He’s also good at winning fouls, forcing wingers and wide attackers to foul him and draw the result. Despite being a fine crosser, though, it’s the crispness and depth of his passing that has so many fans impressed.

What we think makes James so special, though, is his ability to never give up. He’s a hard worker; a player who really forces himself forward and puts in a great collection of deliveries. Variety, consistency, and maturity; these are the kind of attributes that make James a deeply interesting prospect.

If he can simply keep continuing to get games, 2020-21 could be his true breakout year as a first-team starter.