Reece James is available for England's quarterfinal clash against Norway, according to coach Thomas Tuchel, but his early return could lead to a setback in his hamstring recovery.
It has been almost three weeks since the match between England and Ghana, which took place on matchday 2 of Group L in the World Cup. The same match in which Chelsea captain Reece James again felt discomfort in his hamstrings, an injury that the club's fans know quite well, as it has not allowed him to freely show his full potential for many years now.
Since that match, played on June 23, the fullback has not played a single minute because he was recovering and could not even train at the same pace as his teammates. It was not until Thomas Tuchel's pre-match news conference on Friday that he confirmed James is now training with the rest of the team and is available to see minutes during the quarterfinals against Norway.
Journalist Rob Dorsett commented that the player is desperate to get minutes in the tournament again, even more so after the red card to the right-back who had been tasked with replacing him, Jarrel Quansah. However, he notes that it could be quite dangerous to have such high demands right after returning from his injury.
He said: "Marc Guehi is rated as 50-50 for England's World Cup quarter-final v Norway. The hamstring problem is not serious, but time is the issue, and Dan Burn is pushing to come in if Guehi doesn't make it. Rice sickness shouldn't stop him from starting, and England has isolated the bug. Reece James is desperate to play, but would be a big risk for him breaking down after so little training and with his hamstring problem far from fixed."
Someone who must also be very attentive to the player's progress is, of course, Xabi Alonso. Chelsea's new coach must be aware of his captain's physical condition, the same one who may have a new position once he returns to London. As we have commented previously, the Blues' right-back position is becoming overcrowded, and alternatives must be found for certain players in the squad.
With the newly arrived Marco Palestra and the already experienced Malo Gusto, you have two reliable fullbacks to face the season. Something that could mean James' future lies in midfield, specifically fulfilling the role of a "6." We will stay tuned to provide you with updates in the coming weeks. For now, we wish the captain the best in case he has to see minutes in such an intense match as that clash against Norway will be.
