These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Bent tips James for greatness

Darren Bent has told TalkSport he is a huge admirer of Reece James and the former striker expects the 19-year-old to offer strong competition to Trent Alexander-Arnold for a starting spot at right-back with England in the years to come.

Bent spoke highly about the teenager after he watched him put on a superb display on his first Premier League start in the 2-0 win against Crystal Palace last weekend.

‘I’m such a big fan of this kid, it’s crazy,’ said the ex-England international, who had spells in the Premier League at Charlton, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.

‘You look at his technical ability on the ball, I think he’s just as good as Trent. His passing and distribution is just as good. He’s a big powerful kid as well, he’s not slight, he’s strong, he’s built, he’s massive.

‘I think that right-back position for England at the moment is unbelievable. It’s going to be some fight over the next 10 years for that position.

‘But as far as Chelsea go, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, they’re all young and they’re all playing really well. It’s a really exciting time to be a Chelsea fan.’

Pulisic stays top of power rankings

Christian Pulisic remained in first place in Sky Sports’ player power rankings for a second straight week after he extended his scoring streak in the Premier League to three games during our win against Palace.

The weekly rankings is based on the current form of players in England’s top flight and Pulisic moved into pole position a week ago after bagging a hat-trick in the 4-2 win at Burnley and finding the net again in the 2-1 victory at Watford.

He added to his tally by scoring his first-ever goal at Stamford Bridge to clinch our triumph against the Eagles which also kept him top of the powers rankings ahead of the Leicester pair of James Maddison and Jamie Vardy in second and third place respectively.

Raul Jimenez of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sadio Mane of Liverpool complete the top five while the Chelsea pair of Willian and Tammy Abraham are bubbling just outside the top 10 at No.11 and No.13.

N'Golo Kante – It’s taken hard work

N’Golo Kante, currently away with France for international duty, has spoken to that country’s sports newspaper L’Equipe about his recovery from injury.The midfielder was back in the Chelsea starting line-up for the win over Crystal Palace at the weekend and played 90 minutes. Prior to then it has been a stop-start time since the end of last season.‘It made me happy because it took a lot of work to get back,’ Kante told L’Equipe. ‘At the end of last season I was injured, I was even uncertain for the final of the Europa League against Arsenal.‘I started the season with an ankle sprain. Playing and being stopped and being stopped again. I had to handle a sprained knee and sprained ankle that was a little difficult to treat. These were not the easiest months of my career. But I am now pleased to return.’

The 28-year-old admitted he has to think about injuries differently than in the past.‘Maybe when I was young, I could play even when I had a physical problem. I compensated and made sure to be on the pitch in any circumstances.‘Today, I may have to pay more attention to recovery, to take good care of my little worries because over time they can create bigger problems.’