Southgate gives an update on James and England's right-back position

was substituted during Chelsea's 2-0 Champions League victory against Milan in October as the Blues announced later that the right-back will undertake a two-month "rehabilitation course."

Although the right-back was optimistic about fast injury recovery, the 22-year-old conceded he will not return to fitness in time on Wednesday. With Kyle Walker also in doubt to be fit for Qatar World Cup, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to be

's driving force at right-back.

Talking to his press conference, the

boss Southgate said on Reece James:

"We had to make a very difficult call with Reece, who is a fantastic player.

"He was not going to be available – if everything went perfectly – until the latter stages of the tournament and there were too many unknowns for us on that road to recovery."

Despite

's injury, the Man City defender was still selected for England's World Cup squad. Comparing the availability of James and Walker, Southgate added:

"I do not think we can take a player who is not available for the group stage, that would be deemed arrogant in some circles.

"But if everything went well and he was available, we would be dropping him into a quarter-final after eight weeks out. That would be really demanding. So it was a tough call.

"Kyle is a long way ahead of that and is progressing really well."

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