Graham Potter discloses Reece James will wear knee brace for four weeks as FA’s reports displeasure
Chelsea manager Graham Potter has raised doubts about right-back Reece James’s fitness for the World Cup, revealing that he will have to wear a knee brace for four weeks before even considering returning to training.
Despite initial positive scans, further examinations of James’ knee revealed damage that will require up to eight weeks to heal, ruling him out of the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate, England’s manager, is set to name his preliminary squad on October 19 and must have finalized his 26-man roster by November 13, when James is expected to still be wearing a brace.
“In terms of his involvement in the World Cup, I don’t know,” Potter admitted after Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. “It will depend on how he recovers. He will give everything. I’m sure he will. But he is in a brace for four weeks and that slows everything down.
“[He] will be in a brace for four weeks. That’s all I know the next four weeks look like for him and that has implications in terms of what he needs to do to get fit from there but our job is just to help him in the short term now and get him back.”
Potter was also unimpressed by questions about the FA’s reported displeasure with Chelsea for allowing James to stay in Milan for an extra day following his injury.
“The boys had a couple of days free and – especially with the international players – it’s important to give them a break when you can and that’s the idea,” Potter said.
“Reece felt a bit of discomfort the following day, came home, and we got it assessed as quickly as we could. Nothing has got worse because of how we acted in those times. Now we have to support him and get him strong.”
Graham Potter discloses Reece James will wear knee brace for four weeks as FA’s reports displeasure
