Potter gives update on James ahead of game vs Newcastle United

Chelsea manager Graham Potter will on Saturday lead his players to St. James Park where they will play against Newcastle United in their last game before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Ahead of the match, Potter gave an update on Reece James who missed making it to the England squad alongside Ben Chilwell due to a knee and a hamstring injury respectively.

‘It’s a natural reaction, isn’t it?’ Potter said.

‘Reece thought he would be close, he did everything he could to give himself a chance but in the end fell a little bit short. I can understand the decision and understand Reece’s frustration and disappointment, and now we just to try to focus on the rehab and get them back as soon as we can.

‘It’s a World Cup and they don’t happen very often, to miss them is disappointing, but they’re strong characters. They’ll be fine.

‘If you’re going to look on the positive, there’s now time to do the rehab as thoroughly as possible without a timescale hanging over them. They can focus on that and then we have them hopefully for when we restart and they’re back fit and strong and well.’