Mauricio Pochettino offers Reece James fitness update after Liverpool draw
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has eased fears over the fitness of right-back Reece James, insisting the club captain did not pick up an injury during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool. James, who was handed the armband ahead of the current season, had an impressive showing against Liverpool but appeared to be in some discomfort before being withdrawn with 14 minutes to go. Given James' recent struggles with injury - he missed 25 Game s in all com Pet itions last season and 20 in the previous year - fans were understandably concerned to see their new captain withdrawn when he was playing so well. Fortunately for Chelsea supporters, Pochettino stressed that James has not picked up an injury and was simply battling fatigue after a shortened pre-season. "He was tired," Pochettino said of his captain. "You need to see from where he came. The first thing we did when we arrived was to assess and analyse all of the players from the past. He was injured for three or...