Boring when people speak about my fitness - James

Reece James worked with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea and is playing at his first World Cup as England's first-choice right-back.

James has sustained a number of injuries in his career and has faced questions about his ability to play regularly with limited recovery time.

He looked to have got over those problems, but picked up a hamstring injury at the end of the 2025-26 campaign which kept him out for four weeks and meant he missed England's games against Japan and Uruguay.

But James returned for Chelsea in time to be selected in Tuchel's World Cup squad and ended the season with 39 appearances for his club.

"People always talk about injuries and availability, and to me it's so boring now," James told BC Radio 5 Live.

"I have one job, which is to be the best I can when I'm on the pitch. I understand the stigma at the start, but after a while it gets boring.

"I've been fit for a long time before my last injury, and I don't listen to too much noise.

"I just focus on myself and my body, trying to perform the best I can and help the team I'm playing in."