Reece James is in danger of losing his place in the England football team. England coach Gareth Southgate has admitted that James’ history of injuries could be a factor in omitting him from England’s 23-man team for Euro 2024.
For now, Reece James is not part of the 25-man squad for their next two friendlies. England play against Malta and Northern Macedonia later this month. The Chelsea skipper has been gradually reintroducing himself to the first team in recent months. He informed Southgate that he is not yet fully fit and has decided not to re-join the England team.
Southgate discussed James’ omission to the media after announcing England’s 25-men squad. James was appointed Chelsea captain at the beginning of the season but has played just once for England after being ruled out of England’s 2022 World Cup squad due to injury. He experienced a similar fate at Chelsea, where he suffered a torn hamstring on the season’s first weekend and has only recently returned, making four starts in the last three weeks – yet to complete 90 minutes.
Recee James England place at risk: Southgate
“He was very keen to make clear, ‘Look, I don’t want you to think I don’t want to be there’,” Southgate said.
“We had a really good long conversation and exchange of messages after that as well. But I’m very understanding. We are all conscious that we want to have a fit Reece James that can play consecutive games, because we can only take 23 to a finals and that physical reliability is going to be really important.”
“We’ve never taken crocks,” said Southgate. “We’ve taken some calculated risks on [Harry] Maguire in the Euros, Walker for the World Cup, Phillips in the Euros here with the shoulder operation. They all came through and played. But those risks were less onerous because we had the back-up of an extra three players. So it [the 23-man squad] definitely alters your thinking and the way you’ve got to operate.
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Notably, international managers were able to select 26 players for both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, as provisions were made for Covid-19.
“[James has] not had a 90 minutes yet [since returning for Chelsea]. He’s only been able to be with us [this year] really in March for the first part of the camp. But that’s been because he keeps having these moments where he breaks down so we knew he wasn’t 100 per cent. I was clear that we understand that.”
“There is [competition] and that’s the risk,” added Southgate. “He’s only got one more squad before the Euros, so he knows that. We’ve got belief in what he can do.“
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