Thomas Tuchel reveals Reece James is ‘not ready’ for England duty and expects him to stay at Chelsea during international break

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has told talkSPORT Reece James is not ready to feature in the upcoming international break for England.

An injury-hit campaign has meant that James has appeared in 29 of a possible 49 matches for the Blues, recently returning from a long-term hamstring issue only to be struck down again.

The 22-year-old right-back didn’t make Chelsea’s squad as they beat Middlesbrough to reach the FA Cup semi-finals, but has still been called up for international duty by Southgate.

England play home friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast at the end of March, and Southgate’s team selection has been complicated by the potential loss of two right-backs.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold had already been ruled out of action, and now James seems unlikely to appear.

Tuchel was asked about James’ fitness following the win over Boro and made it clear to talkSPORT he would prefer it if the defender remained with the club.

“For me not [ready for England],” Tuchel said. “I don’t think so because he was as you saw today not available.

“He’s still in individual training, I think he will stay but I cannot tell you.

“It’s not in my hands, it’s a negotiation between medical departments, fitness and the federation.”

He added: “The recommendation is that he does not go. He is still in individual training, otherwise we would have brought him to Lille and we would have brought him here for sure.

“He is still in individual training, he needs one more week of rehabilitation and I think we can provide this much better. It is not the job of the national team to do this.”

One of Southgate’s stalwarts since being named England boss has been Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, who was left out of the most recent Three Lions squad.

Southgate explained he wanted to give James and Alexander-Arnold the chance to prove themselves, but will now likely have to back pedal with the duo missing.

talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor addressed the situation.

“That’s a nightmare for Southgate,” Agbonlahor said. “Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James being chosen over Kyle Walker and now he’s going to depend on Kyle Walker to join up with the squad.”