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"I haven't had that feeling for rather a agelong time."
Chelsea skipper Reece James marked his latest Premier League wounded instrumentality by scoring a 95th-minute equaliser against Bournemouth with a pinpoint free-kick.
The full-back has missed 21 games with hamstring injuries this season, managing conscionable 5 Premier League outings.
He looked elated aft his superb free-kick deed the net, punching the aerial and roaring with delight portion England manager Thomas Tuchel watched connected from the stands.
"It was lonely and frustrating," James told BBC Radio 5 Live astir his clip away. "I americium truly blessed to beryllium backmost helping the team."
Has the 25-year-old yet turned a corner?
James has suffered from genu and repeated hamstring issues implicit the past fewer seasons.
Since helium was made Chelsea skipper astatine the commencement of past campaign, helium has started conscionable 8 top-flight games.
His erstwhile league quality had been an eight-minute cameo against Arsenal successful November, with his past extremity coming against AC Milan successful October 2022.
On Saturday, the England planetary returned from his latest two-month setback erstwhile helium played 45 minutes against Morecambe successful the FA Cup.
With his crippled clip being managed, helium came connected successful the 56th infinitesimal against Bournemouth and mostly impressed against tricky winger Antoine Semenyo.
James' biggest interaction connected Tuesday, though, was successful beforehand of goal.
Talisman Cole Palmer passed free-kick duties to James, who rewarded his team-mate's spot by curling successful from 20 yards out.
"Reece tin comparison with Cole successful presumption of free-kicks due to the fact that helium is precise good," said Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. "We decided for Reece and helium scored and we are each happy, due to the fact that astatine slightest we took a point."
It was a onslaught that had "pace, powerfulness and a small spot of swerve", according to ex-Premier League striker Glenn Murray.
"He deserved it, those moments are hard for each player," added Maresca.
"Now, the people for him is to beryllium acceptable until the extremity and helium volition assistance america successful the mode we privation to play."
James, who has won 16 caps for his country, was besides asked astir a imaginable instrumentality to the nationalist team.
The defender has not appeared for England since March 2023, but told TNT Sports that manager Tuchel "knows my capabilities".
James played immoderate of his champion shot during Tuchel's spell astatine Chelsea, starting the 2021 Champions League last nether the German.
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