Reece James is set to miss England’s last group stage game of the World Cup against Panama on Saturday night but there are fears his injury could be worse than initially suspected
England star Reece James could miss the rest of the World Cup with his injury ‘worse than initially thought’. The Chelsea defender is set to miss the Three Lions clash with Panama on Saturday night but is now in a race to make any further appearances this tournament.
James was absent from Thursday’s training due to a tight hamstring, an issue he picked up during Tuesday’s goalless draw with Ghana.
James was also missing from the squad when Thomas Tuchel’s team trained on Friday, alongside Declan Rice who is also understood to have picked up an injury.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Rob Dorsett said: “Reece James’ hamstring injury is worse than originally thought and I’ve been told the chances of him playing any more minutes at the World Cup depend entirely on whether England can reach the latter stages of the tournament.
“He was seen beckoning to the England bench late on in that 0-0 draw against Ghana but he wasn’t able to be replaced because Thomas Tuchel had already made all five substitutions.
“It isn’t clear whether that extra time on the pitch has aggravated the injury.”
Losing James for a substantial part of the tournament would be a major blow to England’s hopes, having already lost back up right back Tino Livramento before the first game of the tournament.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was called up as a replacement, although he, like other members of the squad, is a more natural centre back option than right back.
Djed Spence is the most likely alternative to play on the right, with Man City’s Nico O’Reilly coming back in on the left hand side of England’s back four.
Sky Sports also report that James is ‘devastated’ by the latest injury setback but is not likely to leave the England camp for further treatment.
Injury issues continue to mount up for England and while neither Rice or his midfield partner Elliot Anderson’s niggles are thought to be serious, it is possible that both are rested for the Panama game in a bid to have them fighting fit for England’s first knockout game.