England have suffered a setback ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Wales and Latvia, with Reece James being withdrawn from the squad following medical assessments. The Chelsea defender, who has struggled with recurring injuries in recent months, will not take part in Thursday’s clash against Wales or next Tuesday’s encounter with Latvia.
The decision was made after medical evaluations confirmed that James was not fit to feature in either game. His absence will be a blow to England manager Thomas Tuchel, who had hoped to use these fixtures to fine-tune his defensive setup ahead of the next international window.
James’ withdrawal opens the door for another defender to step up, with options such as Trent Nico O’Reilly and Kyle Walker likely to cover the right-back position. England will be aiming to maintain their strong form despite the setback, as they prepare for crucial fixtures in their qualification campaign.
For James, the focus now shifts to recovery and regaining full fitness ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League matches. His condition will continue to be monitored by both club and country medical teams.
