Reece James set for first England start in two years | OneFootball

Reece James is poised to make his first England start in nearly three years in tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia, according to the BBC.

The Chelsea captain came off the bench in England’s 3-0 victory over Albania last Friday. He is expected to feature in the starting XI for the first time since September 2022.

Tuchel has long admired the 25-year-old. James was a key player for the German tactician as they won the Champions League together at Chelsea.

A string of injuries have hampered James’ career, limiting his opportunities to cement a regular starting role for the Three Lions.

However, Tuchel is a firm believer in his abilities and is eager to reintegrate him into the England set-up.

England fans will be watching closely to see how James fares on his long-awaited return to the starting eleven.

Elsewhere, England’s attacking plans have been reshuffled following Anthony Gordon’s withdrawal from the squad due to a hip injury.

The Newcastle United winger had been tipped to start, but he has returned to his club for treatment.

His absence paves the way for Morgan Gibbs-White, who has been called up as a replacement, although it remains uncertain how many changes Tuchel will make to the line-up.

As England strive to build momentum following their dominant display against Albania, tonight’s opponents Latvia are seeking a historic breakthrough.

Latvia has never qualified for a World Cup and have only appeared at one major tournament – the 2004 European Championship in Portugal – where they collected a solitary point against Germany.