Chelsea captain Reece James has been forced to withdraw from the England senior squad for the upcoming October international fixtures. The right-back sustained an injury during the recent Premier League clash against Liverpool.
While the injury has been managed by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca since the start of the 2024/25 season, James revealed on Instagram that he suffered a “nasty gash” on his leg, likely caused by an opponent’s stud. This revelation suggests the decision to withdraw may have been taken as a necessary precaution, particularly given the importance of his full fitness to the club. Chelsea supporters are hopeful the key defender will recover before the end of the international break.
James was originally named in the squad by manager Thomas Tuchel for the fixtures against Wales and Latvia.
O’Reilly Promoted to Senior Squad
The Football Association has confirmed that Nico O’Reilly, the promising midfielder from Manchester City, has been called up to the senior squad as James’s replacement, earning his first senior England call-up after moving up from the Under-21s setup.
O’Reilly has been a part of the Manchester City academy since he was eight years old. He enjoyed a breakout season last year, making 21 appearances and scoring five goals. He was also part of Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup during the summer and has already featured nine times for City this season.
England is set to face Wales at Wembley on Thursday, October 9, 2025, before traveling to Riga to take on Latvia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Source: NotJustOK
