Reece James & Wesley Fofana fly to Dubai in bid to salvage World Cup hopes

Chelsea defenders Reece James and Wesley Fofana have flown to Dubai in an attempt to salvage their World Cup hopes.

James suffered a knee injury during Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Milan in the Champions League last month and is running out of time before Gareth Southgate names his England squad on November 10.

It initially looked like James would have no chance of making that deadline, although he is hoping that warm-weather treatment will speed up his recovery.

"Reece James and Wesley Fofana will continue their rehabilitation programmes this week in Dubai,” Chelsea said via their official Twitter account. "A member of the Chelsea medical department will accompany them.”

Fofana has joined James in Dubai as he attempts to recover from a knee injury of his own, although his World Cup hopes look even bleaker.

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The former Leicester man had hoped his move to Chelsea would help him force his way into the France squad for the tournament, though that now looks unlikely. Les Bleus have major injury concerns before their title defence and Fofana may have been a shoo-in in their squad if fully fit.

James recently revealed he still hopes to be available for England's trip to the Middle East but is not putting pressure on himself to rush back to fitness. If James is unable to make it, that could open the door for Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Kyle Walker also struggling to be fit for the tournament.