Reece James is fighting to prove his fitness for England’s probable last-32 knockout game at the World Cup after tweaking a hamstring.

The Chelsea defender will sit out Saturday’s final group match against Panama, where victory will confirm top spot.

Thomas Tuchel had planned to rest James in New Jersey after featuring for 90 minutes in both the win over Croatia and the goalless draw with Ghana.

The first-choice right back missed training with the team at their base in Kansas City on Friday before they flew out to the east coast.

Reece James will play no part in England’s next World Cup matche due to a hamstring injury

The first-choice England right back (right) has a long-standing issue with hamstring problems

James believes the latest hamstring issue will not present a major problem for the remainder of the tournament but Tuchel will doubtless be concerned.

The 26-year-old had missed six weeks towards the end of the Premier League season with another hamstring issue and there are a lack of specialist right backs behind him in the pecking order.

Jarell Quansah and Djed Spence are among those who can deputise for James, with England having already lost Tino Livramento to a calf problem.

A win over Panama would take England to Atlanta on Wednesday, while they will play in Toronto on Thursday should either Croatia or Ghana leapfrog them.