REECE JAMES has been given the devastating news by England boss Gareth Southgate that his World Cup dream is over.
Right-back James, 22, was desperate to make Southgate’s squad for Qatar despite last month’s knee injury.
A positive scan yesterday increased the defender’s belief he could be back for the knockout stages – and James ran on grass at Chelsea’s Cobham base for the first time since his operation.
But Southgate rang the Blues ace to deliver the bad news in person, telling him he could not afford to take a risk on his fitness.
A source said: “Reece was confident he would be OK by the start of December.