England manager Thomas Tuchel has been forced into a late defensive reshuffle after Chelsea captain Reece James withdrew from the national squad due to injury.
The 25-year-old right-back sustained the knock during Chelsea’s dramatic 2–1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday but managed to complete the full match. Subsequent assessments, however, prompted his return to Stamford Bridge for further medical evaluation—ruling him out of England’s World Cup qualifying fixtures against Wales and Latvia.
In his absence, Manchester City’s rising star Nico O’Reilly has been handed his first senior call-up. The 20-year-old has impressed this season, making 30 appearances for the Premier League champions and earning widespread praise for his composure and defensive maturity.
James’s injury represents a setback for Southgate’s plans, but O’Reilly’s inclusion offers a glimpse of England’s future talent coming to the fore.
