What Chelsea players did to Reece James speaks volumes as Enzo Maresca struggles with big problem

 What Chelsea players did to Reece James speaks volumes as Enzo Maresca struggles with big problem 

The main talking points from Chelsea's 2-1 victory in the Premier League against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon as the Blues move up to fifth in the table 

There is Joe Willock, free at the far post. The Newcastle United midfielder has a free header. Unchallenged. Surely this will be a goal. He can either go for goal himself or look to find one of his teammates. He chose the latter.

It turned out to be the wrong choice. Reece James is in the right place. The Chelsea captain heads out for a corner. James' teammates, grateful for their skipper's presence, gather around the right-back; patting him on the back and shouting all sorts of nice things in his direction. 

It was just a matter of moments after that when referee Simon Hooper blew the whistle for full-time after seven gruelling added minutes from Chelsea's point of view. As soon as he heard Hooper's whistle, James collapsed. He knew how big that could be for the Blues and him on a personal level.

The strange thing is, James almost scored an own goal with the header in question but his intelligence and overall footballing IQ to be where he was - incredible. It was a certain goal if he was not there.

Down on the floor in his own box at full-time, James is mobbed by his teammates. They gather around their captain to congratulate him. It was a goal-saving action from James but also, crucially, it was the first time he had put 90 minutes together in a Blues shirt for more than 18 months.