Reece James could boost England’s World Cup hopes by returning from a hamstring injury at the start of next month.

The Chelsea defender has been out since picking up a problem during last month’s defeat by Newcastle United, raising doubts over whether he will be fit to represent his country this summer. There were initial fears that James, who had not sustained a hamstring injury since November 2024, was facing up to two months on the sidelines and was in danger of not playing again this season.

An absence of that extent would leave Thomas Tuchel with a major decision on whether to gamble on James in England’s 26-man squad for the World Cup. However there are indications that the right-back is making good progress and could be back at the end of this month or in early May.

James has established himself as Tuchel’s favoured choice at right-back. He was unavailable when England faced Uruguay and Japan in friendlies last month. Ben White and Tino Livramento did not convince at right-back in those games. Tuchel also has Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah as options at right-back but has shown little interest in Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.