Chelsea players N’golo Kante and Reece James a major doubts for the 2022 World Cup, unless there is a massive turn around in their fitness level.
Defender James sustained a knee injury in their Champions League clash against AC Milan and needs surgery, which may sideline for a long spell.
A decision by Chelsea’s medical team has yet to be taken as to whether the 22-year-old will require surgery but with the World Cup in Qatar beginning in just over a month’s time, his place in the England squad is under threat.
James has been in sparkling form in recent weeks for Chelsea. The academy graduate scored and assisted in the home victory over AC Milan in the Champions League and played the key pass that led to the Blues’ winning a penalty in San Siro in midweek. He also managed to curtail the threat of Rafael Leao over both games.
Kante suffered a relapse of an old hamstring injury and would be out for up six weeks, sports daily L’Equipe reports that the 31-year-old’s spot on the team is very much in doubt . Even if he is able to return before the tournament, he will not have played much, if any, competitive football since August.
