November 09, (THEWILL) – The Three Lions Manager, Gareth Southgate, has informed Chelsea’s right back, Reece James, that he will not be travelling with the England team to the World Cup.
James received a call from Southgate on Tuesday, informing him that he would not be included in the 26-man roster, which will be made public on Thursday afternoon, with the 22-year-old still healing from a knee injury sustained against AC Milan last month.
Despite a scan revealing that James had suffered ligament damage, James remained optimistic that he will be able to recuperate in time to travel. He was required to wear a knee brace for four weeks as part of his recovery and he ran for the first time on Tuesday, at Chelsea’s training.
By the end of the month, according to a specialist, he might be able to play again and he was targeting a return for England during their last group match against Wales on November 29. However, despite Southgate’s admiration for James, he has concluded that he cannot afford to gamble on the defender and will be leaving him behind.
Though he was heartbroken by the news, James, who has 15 caps for the Three Lions, respects the decision. He will now carry on working with Chelsea for his recovery, as he intends to join other club players, who are not competing in the World Cup, in Abu Dhabi, for a training camp and for at least one friendly game next month.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
