2 hours ago England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his full-back enactment argumentation aft confirming Reece James volition miss Saturday's World Cup lucifer against Panama.
As revealed by BBC Sport this week, James was assessed by England medics pursuing Tuesday's goalless gully against Ghana aft complaining of a hamstring issue.
Tuchel has since confirmed that the Chelsea right-back has not travelled to New Jersey from their Kansas City basal for their last Group L crippled against Panama connected Saturday (22:00 BST). But helium insists James has a accidental of playing successful England's imaginable last-32 lucifer adjacent week.
However, BBC Sport understands that James is simply a important uncertainty for the commencement of the knockout stages, should England qualify.
James' wounded – and the calf contented that caused Tino Livramento to instrumentality location from the United States – has thrown into question Tuchel's determination to bring conscionable 3 recognised full-backs to the World Cup.
Djed Spence, James and Livramento were the lone genuine full-backs selected.
Nico O'Reilly, who played astatine left-back for Manchester City past season, is besides successful the squad – but helium came done the ranks astatine Etihad Stadium arsenic a midfielder. Dan Burn has besides played astatine left-back but is recognised arsenic a centre-back.
Spence and cardinal defenders Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa are Tuchel's alternate options astatine right-back.
Nevertheless, Tuchel said: "Yes, I americium [happy with my options astatine right-back]. I selected the team, truthful I'm precise blessed with everything with the diagnostic of the players and strengths that they springiness us.
"We would emotion to person each azygous cardinal player, we would emotion to person them available, it's not disposable – we find solutions, it's what we do. It's a tournament, we determination on."
James and Livramento, successful particular, person a chequered wounded past and Tuchel's determination to instrumentality some to the World Cup is apt to beryllium called into question.
Tuchel, though, is assured James volition play again successful the World Cup should England progress.
"It's a insignificant hamstring issue, he's not been capable to bid the past 2 days," confirmed Tuchel.
"He's present connected an accelerated rehabilitation programme and we instrumentality it crippled by game, but we powerfully judge that helium volition beryllium disposable [during the tournament]."
There was amended quality with regards to the availability of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, who Tuchel said would each beryllium disposable to look Panama.
Rice (calf) and Anderson (glute) missed grooming connected Thursday – but returned connected Friday.
Tuchel confirmed Saka is acceptable to commencement aft coming disconnected the seat successful the opening 2 matches due to the fact that of a semipermanent Achilles tendinitis complaint.
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