Leicester City's fight for Championship stability, or even survival, found a slightly unexpected talisman in Jordan James. Since arriving on loan from Rennes, the midfielder rapidly ascended from a particularly promising prospect to a vital cog in the Foxes' engine room. Born in Hereford but committed to his Welsh heritage, James is the son of former professional defender Tony James. His footballing pedigree clearly flows through his son's technical, disciplined and gifted style of play.
Jordan James: The rising Welsh star lighting up Leicester City
James's rise was fairly meteoric: after a breakout period at Birmingham City, he earned his senior international debut for Wales at just age 18 against Croatia. This early exposure to the high-stakes environment of European qualification helped forge the exceptional character he has displayed at King Power Stadium.
At Leicester, James has become a standout performer. A breakout star. Blending high-energy defensive work with a deft and aggressively clinical edge.
The midfield man's productivity has been a lifeline for the club, contributing nine goals this season and providing leadership that belies his 21 years. However, a recent hamstring injury threatened to derail his momentum, with initial medical assessments suggesting he would possibly be sidelined until late March.
This prognosis of gloom left a significant void in the middle during a crucial stretch of the campaign. Yet, new manager Gary Rowett has provided a glimmer of hope that has invigorated the Blue Army.
Gary Rowett to the rescue
Speaking ahead of the trip to Stoke City, Rowett revealed that James's recovery is partially ahead of schedule. The manager suggested that the Welshman could be back in a week or two; a seeming shortening of the original timeline.
"Probably for the next week or two, we’re as we are. We’ve got some very good players and I’m excited to see what they can do. He (James) is one of those players,” Rowett added. “I don’t like putting timescales on players. But if you look at some of the players that might be available, hopefully one or two of those will be a little closer to the action."Rowett - lcfc.com
Should James continue this rapid rehabilitation, he could sensationally return to the squad for the home clash against Norwich City on February 28. Rowett's declaration suggests that LCFC's most productive asset is almost ready to lead the charge for the season's final hurdle.