Gareth Southgate says Reece James was left out of the England squad for the World Cup as there were "too many unknowns" in the Chelsea star's recovery from a knee injury.
James was expected to be a key figure for the Three Lions at the tournament in Qatar, which gets underway in a little more than a week's time. However, in Chelsea's Champions League match against AC Milan at San Siro on October 11, the academy graduate hobbled off after a collision with Theo Hernandez.
There were no major concerns about the injury in the immediate aftermath of the game and James was allowed to spend his day off in Milan before flying home. Only then did the 22-year-old undertake a scan that revealed he would face eight weeks out with damaged ligaments.
