Chelsea and England defender Reece James on feeling his ‘best in a long time’, working under Tuchel again and playing two positions | OneFootball

Reece James says it is the best he has felt in a “long time” after returning to the England starting 11 with a goal against Latvia.

James started for the Three Lions for the first time in three years in the 3-0 win, opening the scoring with a superb free-kick.

The 25-year-old has endured a nightmare with injuries during his career and managed just 11 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last year.

Those injury problems continued into this season too, enduring two separate spells on the sidelines with hamstring problems.

But after coming back from his most recent injury, the Blues captain has quickly returned to form which earned him an England recall by his former Chelsea boss and now England head coach Thomas Tuchel.

“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time,” James said after the win over Latvia.

“It means a lot more to me (playing for England). The last two-and-a-half or three years have been a struggle.

“I’ve had lots of injuries and it’s been tough but towards the back end of this season I’ve been playing consecutively and I’m happy to be back playing for my club and for my country on a regular basis.”

James was a key part of Chelsea’s Champions League winning team in 2021 under Tuchel and says he is delighted to be working with the German again.

“He’s very much the same,” James said. “The same messages, the same phrases he used to say and I think the boys have enjoyed working under him in the short spell we’ve had together.

“We got off to a good start with two wins.”

James played his usual position of right-back for England but has been used as a midfielder of late by his club manager Enzo Maresca.

Tuchel was asked about James’ best position after the win over Latvia, admitting he sees him more as a defender.

“If it’s an open game and there are a lot of transitions through midfield, I’m not so sure if it would suit him perfectly,” he said.

And on switching positions recently, James insists it does not matter where he plays.

“Football is football to me,” he said.

“As I said, I’ve been sidelined for so long. If I play midfield, if I play right-back, I have a job to do to try and help the team and perform to the best of my ability.”