Desperate Chelsea star Reece James refusing to give up on World Cup dream as he prays Southgate gambles on crocked stars

REECE JAMES is refusing to give up on his World Cup dream and will try everything to make the winter tournament.

The England and Chelsea right-back is sidelined with a knee injury and still in a brace and on crutches.

James, 22, knows he is chasing a miracle to deliver a quicker-than-expected return as he hobbles around the Blues’ Cobham training ground.

But he will keep fighting until November 10, the day Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is set to name his 26-man squad for Qatar.

The defender, who suffered the injury against AC Milan in the Champions League on October 11, said: “I need to keep working hard over the next few weeks and see where I am on call-up day.

“I will try and not rule myself out. It is still slow and in the early stages.

“I have been in rehab for two weeks, so I am still taking it day-by-day.

“The Chelsea medical staff have not given me a percentage of my chance of being back for the World Cup.

“It is down to how I feel closer to the time and how stable it is.”

Blues boss Graham Potter fears the injury will take eight weeks to heal which would see James miss the World Cup.

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The Three Lions defender added: “It is going to be very tough.

“It is an injury which could take a long time and it came at an awkward period but I am trying my best and hopefully it is possible and if it is not, I know I tried everything.”

Reece to start to run

James hopes to start running again – starting off in a swimming pool – in the next few days.

The Stamford Bridge star said: “I am trying to be positive. I am not not sure how long this injury will take.

“I am not in pain. But if I try to speed it up, it might be a bit of a risk. I am trying hard every day to improve and make it right and get fit as soon as possible.

“You are more gutted in the early stages of the injury and then you have to get your head around it.

“I don’t know when I will be able to run again. I ask that question every day but the medical team do not give many answers.

“You don’t go from walking to running. That is a difficult thing about injuries — you have to do it in stages, so I have to start running in the pool first.

“Hopefully, this will be in the coming days.

“Each day, I come in and get assessed and then I go on electric machines and receive therapy.

“I go to the gym and the pool. After that, more treatment.”

Injury worse than initially feared

James was absolutely flying before the incident in the Champions League Group E clash.

He was playing well for Chelsea and in the final internationals before the World Cup, he picked up senior caps No 14 and No 15 against Italy and Germany in the Nations League.

James appeared certain to start at right wing-back against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium next month.

He then suffered the injury in the second half of Chelsea’s 2-0 win in Milan and despite being taken off, he initially felt fine.

While most of his team-mates stayed in Italy for a day off, James then returned to England for treatment.

He said: “It was just one challenge.

“The ball was mid-air, I tried to stud it down but my foot got caught and I got barged to the side and my leg went out.

“I felt like I could have carried on but we were 2-0 up and they were down to ten men so I thought it was best to stop.

“It felt fine. We did tests and it seemed like I tweaked it and only when I came back I realised it was not too good.

“It was a big blow. Especially when you don’t think it is bad and then get told it is quite bad.”

Immediately after picking up the knee injury, James spoke to England boss Southgate.

The player added: “He asked me how I was, how bad it was but it was not in-depth.

“I played in the England games and thought I played reasonably well.

“So to then get injured before the World Cup is not what you want.”

Three Lions sweating

James is one three England stars sweating over whether he’ll be on the plane for the World Cup.

Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips also picked up injured, but are optimistic of being fit for Qatar.

Walker, 32, has had hip surgery while 26-year-old Phillips — who has played just three games this season — could soon return from a shoulder problem.

James said: “I have not spoken to Kalvin but I spoke to Kyle after his surgery. It is tough for all of us.

“These things happen in football and hopefully the other players in the England squad will stay fit.”

James is impressed by new Chelsea boss Graham Potter, who returns to his former club Brighton today on a nine-match unbeaten run.

He said: “He has done well and the performances have been good.

“I have spoken to him a couple of times since the injury but he has not really known what to say.

“He just tells me to keep working hard and to be back as soon as I can for club and country.”