England manager Gareth Southgate has disclosed that Chelsea defender Reece James opted to forego a call-up to the national squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. Southgate, while announcing his squad for the qualifiers, revealed that he had initially intended to include James in the lineup.
Despite securing their spot in next summer’s finals, England’s squad for the concluding qualifiers raised eyebrows with a few notable omissions. One such absence was that of Chelsea’s captain, Reece James.
James, who has faced a season plagued by injuries, has recently shown promising signs of recovery. His performance in Monday’s 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur demonstrated his growing match fitness. With expectations that James will feature in Chelsea’s upcoming clash against Manchester City, Southgate expressed his desire to closely assess the 23-year-old during the international break.
However, James, having endured a long path back from multiple injuries, declined the opportunity, citing the need for rest and recuperation after limited playing time since April. Southgate, understanding his caution, commented, “I was hoping to call up Reece James, but he doesn’t feel he’s quite ready. I can understand that.”
Acknowledging the competition for spots in the squad, Southgate recognized the risk, noting, “He’s only got one more squad before the Euros.” Despite James’s absence from the upcoming qualifiers, Southgate emphasized the team’s belief in his abilities and expressed understanding of the player’s perspective.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Southgate explained, “We did discuss reporting for duty to attend team meetings, and he was very keen to make clear, ‘Look, I don’t want you to think I don’t want to be there.’ We had a really good long conversation and exchange of messages after that as well.”
James, with just one England appearance in over a year, made his mark as a late substitute in the 2-1 victory over Italy in March. Southgate highlighted the importance of him being match-fit, stating, “We are all conscious that we want to have a fit Reece that can play consecutive games.”
In the final analysis, Southgate respects James’s choice, balancing the immediate needs of the national squad with the long-term fitness and performance goals of one of England’s promising defenders.
