Chelsea youngster Frankie Runham is determined to follow in Reece James’ footsteps and break into the Blues’ first team.

Reece James has been in Chelsea’s senior squad since 2019 and is now club captain following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta over the summer.

Discussing who he looks up to, Runham recently told Chelsea’s official website: “I really like Reece James, more so because he came from the Academy and he made it to the first team. I want to do that too. It is a big inspiration for us younger boys to see guys from the Academy make it over the road.”

It is easy to why James is an example for Runham and the rest of Chelsea’s academy.

Not only has the right-back broke into the first team, but he has managed to stay there and excel.

Big challenge for Frankie Runham and Chelsea’s other youngsters

Accomplishing what James has will not be easy for Runham or any other player currently in the Chelsea academy.

The England international obviously got his break when the Blues had a transfer ban and while Frank Lampard was in charge, someone who knows the club inside out at every level.

The Chelsea legend is no longer at Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea have fully utilised the transfer market since their takeover.

They have been bringing in players who are not too much older than Runham, so that could easily block his pathway into the first team.

The attacking midfielder, though, looks determined to make it in west London, and Mauricio Pochettino, as he showed during his time at Tottenham Hotspur, is not afraid to turn to footballers who already in the club’s ranks. So who knows? Maybe Runham will be able to make a similar step up to James in the near future.