With one spin, Reece James turned into Zidane & saved Chelsea’s season

It took just two minutes of the second half at Burnley for Chelsea to realise what they’ve missed this season.

After a frustrating first half, in which the Chelsea players look consumed with the wider anxieties surrounding the club and Burnley were prepared to let them wallow, Reece James decided enough was enough.

Receiving the ball in an innocuous position, James proceeded to turn Dwight McNeill inside out as you would a pair of jeans before putting them in the washing machine before smacking a firm shot past Nick Pope to open the scoring.

The massed Chelsea fans behind the goal convulsed as the stodge and tension of the previous 45 minutes ebbed away. James let out a cathartic roar before being engulfed by his relieved team-mates.

Later on, with the kind of service you’d expect at the Ritz, James laid Chelsea’s third goal on a silver platter with an expert cross. Kai Havertz was the grateful recipient of James’ productivity.

As the away fans marched away from Turf Moor, navigating the steep Lancashire hills on their way to local train and bus stations, many would have been left with a bittersweet feeling about how their season may have panned out if James had remained fit.

As Richard Jolly noted, James was injured for eight weeks and, one game into his return, no Chelsea player has more assists and only two have scored more in the Premier League this season.

The England full-back has played only 17 league games this season – two of those substitute appearances – but has scored or assisted 11 goals. His replacement, Cesar Azpilicueta, has contributed to one.

Azpilicueta is rightfully adored at Stamford Bridge but the difference between him and James is night and day.

In James’ last 15 starts for the club, they have