Chelsea defender Reece James has reportedly been told that he will not be a part of the England squad at the 2022 World Cup.
The 22-year-old was a certainty to be named in the travelling party for the tournament in Qatar before he picked up a knee injury against AC Milan in the Champions League on October 10.
James recently said that he will work until the final moment to be available for the competition, having stepped up his recovery since the end of October.
"The Chelsea medical staff have not given me a percentage of my chance of being back for the World Cup. It is down to how I feel closer to the time and how stable it is. It is going to be very tough," he told The Sun.
"It is an injury which could take a long time and it came at an awkward period but I am trying my best and hopefully it is possible and if it is not, I know I tried everything. I am trying to be positive. I am not sure how long this injury will take."
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However, according to Sky Sports News, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate told James on Tuesday that the right-back would not be in the final squad.
The report claims that the defender flew out to Dubai as part of his rehabilitation and had been doing 'tentative running' over the last few days, but Southgate ultimately decided that James would not be fit enough to be involved in the tournament, which begins on November 20.
On Tuesday, Chelsea boss Graham Potter said that James had been doing 'light jogging' at the club's training ground but refused to put a timeframe on his potential return.
"Reece was outside today having a little jog, but there is nothing to report in terms of anything else," Potter told reporters.
"There is no timeframe [to return]. It is just how he responds. We don't want to rush anything, and I certainly don't want to put any timescales on it. That is for him, the doctors, and physios."
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According to the Daily Mail, Southgate has also spoken to Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips, with the pair further ahead of James in terms of their recoveries.
Both Walker and Phillips are believed to be in with a strong chance of being named in the squad, although the latter is unlikely to be a starter due to his lack of football this season.
England have not been victorious since overcoming the Ivory Coast in a friendly back in March, drawing three and losing three of their last six matches.
The Three Lions will begin their World Cup against Iran on November 21 before also taking on the United States and Wales in the group stage of the competition.
