A Chelsea and England star has reportedly been told by head coach Gareth Southgate that he will not be included in his 2022 FIFA World Cup squad.
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According to The Athletic, right-back Reece James has been informed by Southgate that his name will not appear in the Three Lions' World Cup side ahead of the announcement on Thursday.
The 22-year-old had hoped to recover from his knee injury in time to make the trip to Qatar, but will not be risked as Southgate prepares to confirm his squad this week.
James is said to be devastated by the news which confirmed his fears, despite his previous insistence that he would do everything he possibly could to be ready in time.
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The Blues defender has become a regular on the international stage for England, having made 15 appearances since his debut in 2020.
Since sustaining his injury in October, James has missed Chelsea's last seven matches across all competitions, proving to be a significant loss for new manager Graham Potter.
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The fullback was tipped to be an important piece of Southgate's puzzle in the Middle East, with the English tactician appearing to prefer him over Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold.
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