By 
Reece James of England will miss the World Cup in Qatar, which begins next month, after his Premier League team Chelsea announced on Saturday that he will be out for eight weeks with a knee injury.
James, 22, suffered the injury late in the second half of AC Milan’s 2-0 Champions League triumph on Tuesday and was replaced after receiving medical attention on the field.
“Following the knee injury sustained in our away match against AC Milan, Reece has received treatment from the Chelsea medical department and visited a specialist this weekend,” Chelsea said in a statement.
“After consultation between all parties, Reece will now undergo a rehabilitation programme and is expected to be out for eight weeks.”
The news comes as a blow to England manager Gareth Southgate, who already has Kyle Walker out after groyne surgery this month, leaving Manchester City in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, the England right back who was dropped for the September internationals, is also out with an ankle injury.
The World Cup kicks off on November 20, with England facing Iran the next day.
James, who has also played in a back three for Chelsea, will miss critical games for the London club, which has nine games remaining before the World Cup, beginning with a league trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.
James will miss crucial Premier League games against Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as Manchester City in the League Cup, before the season comes to a halt for the World Cup and resumes in late December when Chelsea visit Bournemouth on December 26.
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