HOME, JAMES!
CHELSEA Reid backs teenage sensation Reece to take Chelsea and England by storm Sparkling Lamps in line to join Euro elite
ONCE Frank Lampard was appointed Chelsea manager the future was always going to be bright for teenage sensation Reece James.
The lively full-back collected award after award in May following a headline-grabbing season on loan at Championship side Wigan Athletic.
And former Everton and England midfielder Peter Reid, who is Wigan’s technical director, has revealed Lampard attempted to cut short James’ loan in January when he was Derby County manager.
“Frank tried to get him to go to Derby but he wanted to stay with us. That shows you that Frank has known all about Reece and his potential for some time,” said Reid.
“We were delighted that he knocked back Derby’s interest. It shows he has a bit about him, that he is loyal.
“I was a little surprised after some of his earlier performances for us that someone didn’t go one step further and try to buy him in January.
“At Wigan we were certainly glad no one didn’t knock on Chelsea’s door and give them an offer they couldn’t refuse. If I had been scouting him regularly I know that my report would have been: ‘We’ve got to sign him’.
“He won all those awards last season, deservedly so. He was superb right throughout the season.”
It’s a wonder that the unassuming 19-year-old, whose sister Lauren plays for Manchester United’s women’s team, had enough room for the multiaccolades: Championship Player of the Season, Wigan Player of the Year, Wigan Players’ Player of the Year, Wigan Goal of the Season.
It really is some endorsement of a first complete season in senior football.
Precocious
The previous season he was Chelsea’s academy player of the year.
Now the Blues fans are seeing for themselves what a precocious talent Lampard has inherited.
Promoted to Aidy Boothroyd’s England Under- 21s, Reid is in no doubt that it’s just a stepping stone to possible i nclusion i n Gareth Southgate’s senior squad – maybe in time for next summer’s European Championships.
“I’m pretty confident he will shortcircuit that and break into the senior side, where he won’t look out of place,” said Reid (below right).
“He has all the playing attributes but he is also mentally strong and anyone who has seen him recently for Chelsea against Crystal Palace and in the Champions League against Ajax can see that nothing bothers him.
“In the Palace game he was up against the talented Wilfried Saha but handled him brilliantly, which shows you what the kid has got.”
Thankfully for Reid, who had a big say in James arriving at Wigan on loan, his first impression of the youngster has been borne out.
He explained: “I first saw him play for Chelsea Under-23s against Lincoln and thought to myself: ‘I like the look of this lad’.
“We managed to persuade him to come on loan and in the first training session he was playing in a wide position.
“Suddenly he opened up his legs to show fantastic pace and then clipped the ball into the box. I just went: ‘wow’.
“That was it, we knew we had a player on our hands. You never know with youngsters. You might spot talent and then you bring them in and worry whether it’s going to be too physical in the Championship.
Vision
“There have been plenty who haven’t been able to handle it.
“But after day one on the training ground we knew Reece would take it in his stride. He’s a terrific athlete. He is built like a bull but when he went into the middle of the park for us for one game he displayed just fantastic vision. His range of passing is terrific.
“I’m not surprised that Frank has given him an early opportunity. He and Jody Morris knew what they have.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he eventually ends up in the centre of Chelsea’s midfield. One thing I do know – one day he will play at the very top level.”
FRANK LAMPARD must think this management lark is pretty easy at the moment.
And if he carries on like this he looks set to achieve something most English bosses have found impossible for the past 27 years.
Since the inception of the Premier League only two English managers have managed to guide their sides into the Champions League qualifying spots by the end of the season.
But if Chelsea maintain their stunning recent form, then Lampard could well add his name to that elite list.
The Blues have lost just two top-flight matches under the former England midfielder – an opening-day thrashing by Manchester United in August, and a narrow 2-1 home reverse against Liverpool in September.
All of which has propelled the club into the top four, a comfortable distance ahead of fifth-placed Sheffield United.
Were it not for Liverpool’s unstoppable start to the season, Lampard’s side could even be eyeing a tilt at a sixth Premier League crown in just 15 years.
That said, qualification for the Champions League would be a decent return.
After Howard Wilkinson inspired Leeds to the title the year before the Premier League came into existence, only Sir Bobby Robson and Harry Redknapp have helped their clubs qualify for Europe’s flagship competition.
Robson achieved the feat with Newcastle back in 2002-03 – his side finishing third behind champions Manchester United and second-placed Arsenal.
The former England boss also managed PSV Eindhoven and Porto in the competition.
And a decade ago, Redknapp helped Spurs to fourth place to seal a first Champions League appearance for the club.