Jadon Sancho has congratulated Reece James following Chelsea’s win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend. The 24-year-old defender led Mauricio Pochettino’s side to victory at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon, providing Nicolas Jackson with the match-winning assist.
After five months on the sidelines due to injury, James finally made his return from the treatment room, replacing Conor Gallagher in the final minutes while Chelsea trailed 2-1. Just seconds after his introduction, Raheem Sterling found an equaliser with a brilliantly curled effort into the far corner.
Then, only a couple of minutes later, Moises Caicedo unleashed James in-behind Nuno Espirito Santo’s backline with a great pass. The Chelsea captain then clipped the ball over to the back post, finding Jackson, who nodded the visitors ahead and secured three points that put them a win clear of United in seventh place.
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After the game, James marked the win with a celebratory post on Instagram – which racked up over half a million likes in less than 24 hours. He wrote: “Wow… soooo good to be back out there with my brothers, I missed that feeling! Enjoy your weekend [tongue out emoji].”
Jack Grealish, Rafael Leao and Patrick Kluivert all showered the Chelsea defender with praise, but one comment from Jadon Sancho – which tallied more likes than anybody else, including KSI and Fabrizio Romano – caught the eye. The on-loan Manchester United winger wrote: “He’s back!”
Speaking to reporters after the game, Pochettino was quizzed on James’ performance. The Blues boss said: “Massive. It’s unlucky there are only two games ahead and it’s one week.
“It is important for him to recover for his feelings and he is such an important player for us. He is our captain. We all love him. Yes, important, and to see whether he will be fit and have a chance of making the Euros.”
Then, when asked if he thinks James could make Gareth Southgate’s squad, Pochettino added: “We have one more week to work. He is doing well in the training sessions.
“After four or five months, he’s not the same to train and compete but if he has the possibility to do that in the next two games, and if his coach in the national team believes he can cope with the competition. I think he will be ready.”
Sancho will also be hoping to force himself into Southgate’s squad for the European Championships this summer. The 24-year-old winger has featured 13 times in the Bundesliga since joining Borussia Dortmund on loan from the Red Devils in January, scoring two and assisting two.
The United loanee has also managed to guide the German outfit into the Champions League final, where he’ll face Real Madrid at Wembley. Erik ten Hag’s side failed to qualify for the knockout stages, finishing rock bottom of Group A.
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