‘I wantedCHANNEL to be the next Drog’
REECE
JAMES grew up with an ambition to be the next Didier Drogba rather than right-back for England.
But the Chelsea defender, 22, reckons it is the attacking instincts he developed playing as a striker for the Blues’ junior teams that helped him become the player he is today.
James is locked in a four-way fight for a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Qatar – and admits that like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier, he believes he is good enough to start.
Southgate has a decision to make. The threat and creativity of James or Alexander-Arnold? Or the experience and defensive safety of Walker or Trippier?
James insists the quartet are the best of enemies. But he admitted: “At the end of the day everyone wants to play – and I think everyone believes they should play.
“But we need to stay together and stick by what the manager decides – and just be ready for your chance.
“Although I would say I’m a full-back, I can play other positions if needed. I like getting forward, creating chances and scoring goals.
“But at the same time, my job is to defend, keep clean sheets and help the team. I like the balance.
“When I was young I was a striker, then I moved to midfield, then defence. I like to attack.”
It was Drogba who was James’ idol when he was progressing through the ranks at Chelsea. “I had been a striker until I was maybe 12 or 13 at Chelsea and I looked up to Drogba, he added.
“I don’t actually know why, but when I was about 12, I was moved back into midfield. Then, when I was
15, I was moved to right-back – and the first two years I hated it. But one day it just clicked.
“Playing as a striker definitely helped me. If you go back five or 10 years, the full-back position definitely wasn’t like it is now.
“It has evolved a lot. You are a lot freer to do what you want, with the licence to get forward.”