International manager now hints 23-year-old Chelsea player has just risked missing out on Euro 2024

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England manager Gareth Southgate has now claimed that Chelsea defender Reece James could have now jeopardised his chances at going to Euro 2024.

He told the Mail Online that deciding to not travel with this squad for the upcoming international break has made it difficult for the manager to guarantee his place for the competition.

Yesterday saw news break that James had decided to not be called up for the upcoming international break which follows the visit of Manchester City on Sunday.

This is due to him prioritising his return to fitness for the club he has been made captain of this summer.

He has only started two league games so far during this campaign, with those being the first game of the season and the most recent.

This availability has clearly frustrated James, with him now making a conscious effort to overcome his injury woes.

James at risk of missing Euro 2024

However, Southgate has claimed this has come at the risk of missing out on his squad next summer.

He said: “There is (a lot of talent ahead of James) and that’s the risk. He’s only got one more squad before the Euros. So he knows that. We’ve got belief in what he can do.

“We did discuss (reporting for duty to attend team meetings) and he was very keen to make clear, ‘Look I don’t want you to think I don’t want to be there’.

“Physical reliability is going to be really important. I think we will always manage a player as well as we can but there is a reality around his training at the moment. He plays and there’s a couple of days’ recovery.

“There’s a little bit more angst from his side. I totally get that. We would have loved to have him with us, don’t get me wrong. But I’m perfectly calm with the conversation.”

While he no doubt deserves to be part of the squad, Chelsea fans will be delighted with the efforts being made to get back to full fitness for his club.