England national team star right back Reece James is more important than ever after Thomas Tuchel, his former manager when Chelsea won the Champions League in 2021, snubbed Real Madrid superstar Trent Alexander-Arnold from his squad.
James has been out since the last game of the World Cup group stage, a 2-0 win over Panama, after suffering a hamstring injury against Ghana in the second match, which was a 0-0 draw.
England clearly missed him in the Round of 32 against DR Congo, as the underdogs, led by striker Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United, very nearly pulled off an upset before Harry Kane stepped in with a clutch brace.
The good news is that James could be back for the Round of 16 against hosts Mexico, who have been on fire. Per David Ornstein of The Athletic, Reece James provided the public with a positive injury update just days before the next round, assuring reporters that he is “OK” and that he is also “feeling good”.
Hamstring injuries are tricky, and James does have a history of injury woes. The Chelsea star’s return is crucial for England’s success against Julian Quinones and the explosive attack of El Tri, as there is a massive drop off between himslef and Tottenham Hotspur second stringer Djed Spence.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.