Reece James concerns for Enzo Maresca identified as alarm bells ring at Chelsea

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was right to be concerned over Reece James’ captaincy abilities, says Jamie Carragher.

It had been nearly two years since plagued-by-injury Blues skipper James played a complete competitive fixture – the second leg of a Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid – in which time, three head coaches had stood at the helm.

But, he took to the field as a starter against Newcastle last weekend - having made his return versus Liverpool the week prior - happy to play out of position on the left for new boss Maresca. His side came away 2-1 victors, and James put in a stellar performance, but the rather quiet 24-year-old's role as captain had been called into question.

Maresca stated before the clash that he ‘wanted more’ in terms of leadership from James when wearing the armband, and Sky Sports pundit Carragher believes that such concerns were not quashed.

“The goal that Chelsea conceded against Newcastle, I can imagine [Enzo] Maresca looking at that and saying, ‘That’s what I mean by Reece James,’” Carragher on the Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.

“He didn’t scream, he didn’t shout – we know he’s a brilliant player, but he’s [Enzo] probably gone into that club thinking, ‘I don’t know too much about him, I’ve heard about him, I’ve heard he’s a great player’.”

Maresca’s comments were quite damning prior to the Magpies’ visit, and though the 44-year-old did sympathise with James’ unfortunate bouts with injury, his manager wants to see confidence installed in the defender.

“The only thing for us is that he has been injured. He’s so important for us. In terms of leadership, I ask (for) more from him,” Maresca told Sky Sports.

According to Carragher, James didn’t give his manager ‘more’ against Newcastle, and the pundit’s colleague, former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, fears for the bashful James’ future as skipper.

“The captain’s role is quite important,” Scholes added. “We had some unbelievable captains at Manchester United. Bryan Robson is someone you look up to with the stature, the presence, he looks after his players. Roy Keane – these types of players.

“You look at Arsenal, you look at the great captains – Tony Adams, Chelsea – John Terry, Liverpool – Steven Gerrard. All the big characters in the team, it’s important for these young players to look up to that.

“Reece James doesn’t look like a captain to me. He seems very quiet and shy. You can be captain like that, but he’s just not the character you’d expect for a club the size of Chelsea football club. Off the pitch, they are big characters as well that people look up to. I don’t see Cole Palmer as a captain.”