Chelsea defender Reece James has pushed back against the ongoing narrative surrounding his injury record, calling constant discussion about his fitness issues “so boring now.”
James has endured a difficult few years with injuries, with the problems repeatedly robbing him of major international tournament appearances with England.
He was ruled out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a blow that was made worse when he also missed England’s run to the Euro 2024 final in Germany.
A further injury at Chelsea disrupted the second half of his most recent club season before he eventually returned for the final few matches.
Despite that return, the criticism and scrutiny surrounding his availability has clearly taken a toll on the right-back’s patience with the subject.
“People always talk about injuries and availability, and to me it’s so boring now,” James told BBC 5 Live.
“I have one job, which is to be the best I can when I’m on the pitch. To be honest, I understand the stigma at the start, but after a while it gets boring,” he added.
James was keen to stress that he had been consistently fit for a significant stretch before his latest setback derailed his campaign.
“I’ve been fit for a long time before my last injury, and I don’t listen to too much noise,” the Chelsea captain continued.
“I just focus on myself, my body, trying to perform the best I can and help the team I’m playing in,” James stated firmly.
James did earn a place on the plane to North America after returning to fitness, suggesting he remains a key figure in Chelsea’s plans going forward.
Chelsea are understood to be actively working to strengthen their squad this summer, with the club reportedly eyeing as many as five new signings as they look to build greater squad depth across the pitch.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has linked the Blues with targets that include a player previously favoured by former Chelsea manager Cesc Fabregas during his time in management.
The activity in the transfer market suggests Chelsea are determined to construct a more resilient squad capable of competing across multiple fronts next season.