Chelsea defender Reece James pulls out of England squad after picking up an injury in the weekend clash against Liverpool, with Nico O’Reilly stepping in as his replacement.
Chelsea defender Reece James has withdrawn from the England national team after sustaining an injury in the Blues’ 2-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old will miss England’s upcoming international fixtures, including the friendly match against Wales at Wembley this Thursday and the World Cup qualifier against Latvia next Tuesday.
According to reports, James suffered a gash on his shin during the match against Liverpool, but still played the entire game. Despite his injury, James has been a key player for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, featuring in various positions, including full-back and midfield.
The withdrawal of James will be a disappointment for both Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, and the player himself. Tuchel had shown great belief in James, bringing him back into the squad and praising his versatility and consistency. James had been enjoying a steady run of games this season after struggling with injury troubles in recent years.
In place of James, Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly has been called up to the senior England squad for the first time.
The 20-year-old defender has impressed with his performances this season and moves up from the Under-21 side. O’Reilly played the full 90 minutes as City triumphed over Brentford 1-0 on Sunday and could make his senior England debut in the upcoming fixtures.
