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Reece James showed his true colours as Chelsea captain with a simple, but massively impactful, act almost 12 months ago
Omari Kellyman has opened up on a nightmare 12 months on a personal level, with the Chelsea loanee detailing how he "didn't feel like a player anymore".
The 20-year-old, who is shining on loan at Cardiff City from the Blues this season, suffered a serious hamstring injury in the summer of 2024 and that was just the start of his woes. Kellyman made his comeback for Chelsea's Under-21s side in March 2025 and in just his second appearance back from the injury, he went off after 35 minutes with another hamstring problem.
He had an operation a few days later, meaning his debut season at Stamford Bridge was concluded without a first-team appearance.
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"When I went off against Norwich, it felt like being at the bottom of a pit," Kellyman said in an interview with The Athletic. "It was hard not to pick up my phone when I was injured and see what people were saying about me.
"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."
"I had great support from all the lads," added Kellyman. "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. He proved you can come back from it. 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. Now I do everything to make sure that when it comes to a matchday, I feel as close to 100% while still training properly."
Back when Kellyman signed for Chelsea in June 2024 for £19million, Enzo Maresca had recently taken over as head coach, replacing Mauricio Pochettino. Maresca spent 18 months at Stamford Bridge before his dramatic departure on New Year's Day, with Liam Rosenior taking over from the Italian.
Kellyman knew Rosenior from his time in Derby County's academy, as well as Justin Walker, who is now part of the backroom staff at Chelsea. "They were great then, so I am not surprised they have done what they have done in their careers and are at Chelsea now," explained Kellyman. "Is the fact that they know me from Derby a good thing? Of course. It's the same for anyone.
"If you know someone who becomes high up somewhere, you are glad that you have that prior relationship."
Kellyman's future is uncertain. Right now, he is focused on winning League One with Cardiff, with the Welsh side top by one point after 33 matches. The former Aston Villa youngster has played a big part in that; with seven goals and one assist in the league this season.
Whether or not Kellyman remains at Stamford Bridge next term remains to be seen, but the youngster will be hoping to prove his worth to Rosenior when he returns to Cobham in the summer.
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