Reece James
The 20-year-old footballer, currently on loan at Cardiff City from Chelsea, faced a challenging season after suffering a significant hamstring injury in the summer of 2024. This setback led to an operation and concluded his debut season at Stamford Bridge without making a first-team appearance. Despite the difficulties, Kellyman found solace and inspiration through the support of his teammates, particularly Reece James.
Kellyman said: “When I went off against Norwich, it felt like being at the bottom of a pit. I got to a point where I didn’t feel I was a player anymore. I was just trying to find a way to cope because it was so tough. I was sort of doing things that people know footballers do to almost make myself feel like a footballer again. I saw clips of footballers playing golf, so I started playing myself, but there were other things… I went shopping, probably too much, because I thought that is what a footballer did. That was my way of convincing myself – to live the life of a footballer even though I wasn’t playing. But this is obviously not how I wanted to live the life of a footballer.”
Kellyman added: “I had great support from all the lads. Most of the players would check up on me every day. With Reece [James], Romeo [Lavia] and Wes [Fofana]. I also spent a lot of time doing rehab with them. Reece checked up on me so much. The injuries he has had are very similar to mine. He is the one I understood the most because a lot of the challenges were similar to what I was going through. The difference is that everyone already knew how good he was, but he still faced the same talk from people about not being able to stay fit. Reece came out the other side and is flying now. I never doubted I would start playing again, but the doubt in your mind is: ‘Will I be the same?’ I have to buy into trusting the process. Before, if I felt something and it wasn’t bad enough to stop me from playing, I would just go out and play. I know my body now. I focus on how it feels a lot more.”
Kellyman’s journey through injury has been marked by personal growth and resilience. The support from Reece James, who has faced similar challenges, has been instrumental in his recovery. James’ experience and encouragement have provided Kellyman with a blueprint for overcoming adversity and returning stronger.
The young player’s connection with Chelsea’s current coaching staff, including Liam Rosenior and Justin Walker, whom he knew from his time at Derby County’s academy, has also been a source of motivation. As Kellyman focuses on helping Cardiff City maintain their top position in League One, with seven goals and one assist this season, his future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain. However, he is determined to prove his worth and make a successful return to Chelsea in the upcoming season.
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