Chelsea right-back Reece James is reportedly still optimistic about his chances of earning a place in England's World Cup squad as he battles back from a knee injury.
The 22-year-old has not seen the field for Graham Potter's side since sustaining the problem against AC Milan in the Champions League on October 5.
James has missed Chelsea's last six games in all competitions, and Potter claimed in the middle of October that the defender still had four weeks left in a brace.
The Chelsea boss then revealed that the complete rehabilitation process would take about eight weeks, all but ruling out James's chances of playing at the World Cup.
However, the Evening Standard claims that James is remaining hopeful of getting onto the plane to Qatar and has even told his friends as such.
The report adds that the England international is ahead of schedule in his recovery, and he is slowly being weaned off his leg brace while he continues to make great strides in his rehab.
While James has supposedly accepted that he could miss the start of the tournament, the 22-year-old will "urge" Gareth Southgate to consider him for selection if he keeps recovering in the same vein.
James and a member of Chelsea's medical team have flown out to Dubai to aid the Blues man in his rehabilitation, and Southgate has briefly spoken with the right-back on the phone.
The FA are said to have been left "furious" with Chelsea's handling of James's injury in the immediate aftermath, but in an interview with The Sun, he refused to rule himself out of the tournament.
"I need to keep working hard over the next few weeks and see where I am on call-up day. I will try and not rule myself out. It is still slow and in the early stages. I have been in rehab for two weeks, so I am still taking it day-by-day," James said.
"The Chelsea medical staff have not given me a percentage of my chance of being back for the World Cup. It is down to how I feel closer to the time and how stable it is. It is going to be very tough.
"It is an injury which could take a long time and it came at an awkward period but I am trying my best and hopefully it is possible and if it is not, I know I tried everything. I am trying to be positive. I am not sure how long this injury will take.
"I am not in pain. But if I try to speed it up, it might be a bit of a risk. I am trying hard every day to improve and make it right and get fit as soon as possible. You are more gutted in the early stages of the injury and then you have to get your head around it."
Prior to suffering his serious knee injury, James had scored two goals and set up two more in 11 appearances for Chelsea this season, while he has three assists from 15 senior England caps.
Chelsea and England were dealt yet another defensive injury blow in midweek, as Ben Chilwell was forced off in the Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb with a hamstring injury.
The left-back will be sent for scans over the weekend, but there are fears that the issue will be serious enough to render him unavailable for the World Cup.
England have been drawn against Iran, Wales and the USA in Group B at the 2022 World Cup and will begin their quest for glory against the former on November 21. body check tags ::
