England: Thomas Tuchel admits doubts over Reece James fitness as he disagrees with Enzo Maresca position shift | OneFootball

James has returned to the England squad for the first time in two years

Familiar face: Thomas Tuchel managed Reece James during his time at Chelsea

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England head coach Thomas Tuchel says he sees Reece James as a full-back rather than a midfielder but has admitted the Chelsea captain still has to prove if he is fit enough to play the position at the highest intensity.

James' career has been blighted by injuries, particularly to his hamstring, since Tuchel left Stamford Bridge but he has impressed in a new midfield role for Enzo Maresca's side this year.

Tuchel said: "I know Reece. In calling him up now, we made sure before we called him up that he was constantly available in training, that he was constantly available to be picked for matches - so that when he’s not picked for matches, it’s not because of injury, it’s just a choice of the club to maybe protect him a little bit. This was the basis for the nomination.

"I still feel he is a player for the full-back and wing-back positions, I think we have enough players in central midfield who are more specialists there…

Reece James has been used in midfield by Enzo Maresca

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Asked if James could still get up and down the flank, Tuchel added: "We need to see if he can do this. He needs to prove the point, to be honest, he needs to prove that he can do it.

"I’m aware he was exposed to less high-intensity work because he played a different role, he started playing in a back three, so with the ball they were building a back three with him which he did also for me at Chelsea.

"In Copenhagen he played in midfield so you are not exposed to high-intensity runs but the history and the numbers recently tell is it is possible so it’s on him to prove the point."

Meanwhile, Tuchel revealed he had spoken to his predecessor Gareth Southgate but did not ask his views on squad selection.

The pair met at Manchester City's home Champions League game against Real Madrid last month but Tuchel declined the opportunity to pick Southgate's brain because he wants every player to have a clean slate.

"It is always a nice, friendly and very trustful exchange [between me and Gareth] but not in terms of his views and how he felt about the Euros and his selection of the team," he said.

"It is not because I don't trust his opinion - the opposite - I just did not want to be influenced too much. I never did this in my career because I want to give everyone the chance to start afresh.

“Everyone is to have the chance to impress me for the first time and don’t want to be influenced by other opinions."