Reece James faces a fight to save his Euro 2024 dream after his latest injury setback.
The Chelsea captain is set for an extended spell on the sidelines and there are fears he could be out for at least three months.
James saw a specialist on Tuesday after suffering his seventh hamstring injury in three years during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park.
Chelsea have not put a timescale on his absence but are braced for more bad news, with surgery not ruled out to fix a recurring problem.
Having missed the World Cup last year with a knee injury, James is desperate to make the England squad for the Euros.
But he faces a race against time to prove his fitness to Gareth Southgate before next summer, and his latest injury puts his place at another major tournament in doubt.
James is already behind Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier in the right-back pecking order, and Southgate has said he can take “far fewer gambles” with unfit players after UEFA reduced squad sizes from 26 back to 23 players.
Southgate is also keeping a close eye on former Chelsea defender Tino Livramento, who has impressed for Newcastle this season and is an alternative option.
James made himself unavailable for the last England squad as he built his way back to fitness after missing two months with a hamstring problem.
England have just four games between now and the Euros, with friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March the last two matches before Southgate names his squad, leaving James little time to impress.
James, who on Tuesday posted on social media to say he was “devastated” by the latest blow, has not completed 90 minutes since April and there are concerns about his long-term fitness.
His last game for England was in September 2022 in a 3-3 draw against Germany in the Nations League.
James' latest injury is a major blow for Chelsea, who are languishing in 12th place in the Premier League and could be without as many as 11 injured players when they host Sheffield United on Saturday.
