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Reece James Fights Injury Talk

2026-06-23 · Reece James · Player Focus

Reece James Fights Injury Talk

Reece James says the constant talk around his injury problems is "so boring now" as he prepares for England's World Cup campaign.

What happened?

The England defender has been plagued by injuries, missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and England's run to the Euro 2024 final. He suffered another injury with Chelsea, disrupting the second half of his season, but returned for the final few games.

Why it matters for Reece James

James' career has been impacted by injuries, but he's determined to focus on his performance on the pitch. He told BBC 5 Live that people always talk about injuries and availability, and to him, it's "so boring now".

What comes next?

James is Thomas Tuchel's first-choice right-back and says he "connects really well" with the boss. He played under Tuchel at Chelsea as the club won the Champions League in 2021 and feels the trust of his manager. Tuchel's belief in James' ability is such that he even chose to play him in a holding midfield role during the second half of England's opening win over Croatia on Wednesday. James switched from full-back, and Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo were left on the bench. The team has changed a lot, with a new generation of players, and James tries to share his experiences with the younger players. He went in there and his job is to feel what they were doing, and try and help the team the best he can. James told talkSPORT that he loves playing under Tuchel, and the manager's passion and willingness to want to win are key to the team's success. He's been in a few dressing rooms when Tuchel's come out with good speeches, at half-time, before the game, after the game. The 26-year-old played a crucial role in England's opening win, and his performance will be key to the team's success in the World Cup. James has been fit for a long time before his last injury, and he doesn't listen to too much noise, focusing on himself and his body. He just focuses on himself, his body, trying to perform the best he can and help the team he's playing in.

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