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Chelsea fans are left in awe as old training footage reemerges

Footage has reemerged of Reece James and Christopher Nkunku going head-to-head in a shooting drill in Chelsea training.

Both players had injury-hit campaigns last season, each missing more than half the campaign as the Blues finished sixth in the Premier League in what was another indifferent season.

James managed just 10 Premier League appearances, while Nkunku appeared 11 times in the league after an injury in last year's pre-season preparations curtailed his whole year.

Now, however, both players are fit and ready to play a part in the new era under Enzo Maresca, with both on the plane to the pre-season tour of the USA and set to get full pre-seasons under their belts.

Now, footage of a training drill from May has reemerged, with the clip showing both players putting on a display of their shooting abilities as they look to make up for lost time in a Blues shirt.

Footage has reemerged of Christopher Nkunku (left) and Reece James (right) going head to head in a shooting challenge

It is hoped that both players will get through pre-season without any issues and be fit to help the team next season

Nkunku arrived with high expectations following his £53million move from RB Leipzig last summer

The video shows both Nkunku and James receiving the ball via a pass, taking a touch, and drilling their shots towards goal.

Efforts from the edge of the box can be seen sailing past the goalkeeper, with the two players going head-to-head in a bid to win the shooting competition.

Both players score six shots each from the edge of the box, before James seeing his efforts saved and is left ruing the miss while Nkunku celebrates in the background.

They then embrace with a high five as James laughs in defeat with his team-mate still celebrating.

There were high hopes for Nkunku when he joined the Blues from RB Leipzig last season for £53million, but his pre-season injury cause him to miss the start of the campaign and he hardly recovered in the year.

James, meanwhile, has dealt with injuries for most of his career, and last term was no different.

The Blues captain is suspended for the start of the Premier League season after being sent off against Brighton in the Blues' penultimate game of the season, but he should be fit to play when he returns.

He is set to miss the first three games due to receiving a four-game ban, with the red card being his second of the campaign.

The Blues squad have again travelled to the United States for pre-season, with James and Nkunku both in the travelling party

The club are looking to start fresh under Enzo Maresca, who has been appointed as the new manager

Fans were left in awe, with one posting on X, formerly Twitter: 'Name a better finisher than Nkunku and Reece James, and I will deactivate immediately,' while another added: 'James is probably the best finisher in our squad, missed him.'

The Blues have flown to the States for pre-season and will get their campaign underway when they take on Wrexham on Thursday morning.

They will also take on Celtic, Club America, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Inter Milan in pres-season as they prepare for life under Enzo Maresca.

They will then face City again on August 18 to kick off their 2024-25 Premier League season.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

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