Who will step up for England in James’ Euro absence

• He is an English professional player
• He plays as a right-back for Premier League club Chelsea and captain of the England national team
• He missed out on the England national team squad for Euro 2024

Who will step up for England in James’ Euros absence is the question that is running in most people’s minds, as the right-back misses out on the England national team squad for Euro 2024 due to a persistent hamstring injury.

This season, the player has been disrupted by a hamstring injury that made him miss two months at the beginning of the season and a further five more months because it required surgery.

The recovery period was quite lengthy and this saw him manage a handful of appearances for Chelsea towards the end of the season. He has since had limited playing time after returning from the injury.

The England national team manager Gareth Southgate excluded him from the national team squad for Euro 2024, opting for players with better match fitness and a stronger attack record of recent performance.

This is not the first time he is missing out in a major tournament as he also misses the 2022 World Cup due to an injury. Even with a late-session assist on his return, the manager is still not convinced that he is fit for the tournament.

James misses out on the Euro 2024 England squad

England national team captain James Reece again misses out on the squad for Euro 2024 due to a hamstring injury, after the 2022 World Cup absence. This is not the first time such an incident has happened and this is a blow that his position in the team will call for a perfect suitor who will play his role very well.

Reece James. Photo/Eurosport

His injury is a recurring problem that saw him miss the 2022 World Cup and this time, he will miss out on the Euro 2024 that will be held in Germany. In the season 2023-24, he missed the first two months.

Four months later, he suffered another hamstring injury during a match against Everton, this time very severe and it called for surgery. His recovery process was a bit lengthy and saw him sidelined for five more months.

Upon his return, there has been limited time for him to regain full match fitness and his national team manager prioritized players who are physically fit with a clean bill of health and a recent track record of performance.

Who will step up in James’ absence?

In his absence, Gareth Southgate has some options for the right-back, with Kyle Walker being the most suitable candidate for the position. The reason for his pick is that he is a veteran with a record for international and club level.

The other option could be Trent Alexander-Arnold who  plays for Liverpool at the club level. This player has an exceptional attacking talent though his defensive position and decision making have been questioned at times.

However, Southgate might prefer to utilize him in a more attacking role like midfield, since he has done it in the past. His other option falls on Kieran Trippier who currently plays for Newcastle United.

Reece James. Photo/Sky Sports

These options come from previous participation in international tournaments and that gives Southgate the basis of selecting the most preferred candidate to replace James.

James recovery and future international prospects.

His absence from the Euro 2024 England squad due to an injury is a blow for him and the national team. However, he has returned and is currently regaining his form at the club level, where he is currently training.

With the Euros happening this month, he is not in the right fitness because recovery takes professional athletes about 4-6 weeks to return to peak performance after a hamstring injury. To avoid future injuries, he might be involved in a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

His  future international prospects are very high since he is only 24 years and has plenty of time to establish himself as a key player for his national team. His right-back position is quite competitive with experienced players like Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.

With these veterans’ age, he has better opportunities to become the best in the team when they retire.