Southgate claims Reece James needs to improve his 'physical resistance'

Gareth Southgate has suggested Reece James' hopes of making the final cut for the European Championship rest on his ability to prove he can remain fit for the seven games a team would play if they were to lift the trophy.

James has been one of the most unlucky players in the Premier League in recent years with regard to his fitness, with injury cruelly ruling him out of England's World Cup squad almost 18 months ago.

The Chelsea captain has already missed 31 games this campaign, after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury earlier on the season .

As a result of his inability to stave off injury for long periods of time, the 24-year-old has now missed as many as 75 games for his club since the start of 2020-21 with fitness concerns threatening to blight his career.

As such, the player has been set a target by Gareth Southgate if he is to make the Euros squad this summer.

'Could he play seven games in the Euros? His record over the last few years would suggest no,' Southgate said of the Chelsea captain.

'But is he a top-level player who could provide something important? No question.

'So yeah again he is another one who the first step is get back into training, get back into the team and build that physical resistance as quickly as you can.'

England have a glut of top level right backs, which perhaps softens the blow of James' continued absence.

Kyle Walker generally starts under Southgate in the No 2 shirt, while Kieran Trippier has also featured heavily on both sides of the back four.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - seemingly back to his best this term - would be the natural rival to Trippier for the back-up role, with James creating further competition in that position when fit.

There is also the case of Ben White, who Southgate