England used to pre-tournament injury nightmares in past, just not on this scale

MANCHESTER, England : England are no strangers to key injuries casting a shadow over preparations for a major soccer tournament, but this time around, it is the sheer volume of them that is giving coach Gareth Southgate the severest of headaches.

David Beckham in 2002 and Wayne Rooney 2006 were both at the peak of their powers going into World Cup tournaments, with England desperate for two talented squads to bring an end to the country's long wait for international football's greatest prize.

But both picked up the same injury, to the same foot bone, meaning every news conference in the tournament build-up was dominated by the fitness of the star player in each side.

This time around, with another talented England group preparing for another shot at ending 56 years of hurt, injuries are again the focus, only this time it is how many key figures, especially in defence, that are in danger of missing out.

It was not so long ago the debate centred around how Southgate was going to choose between the myriad of options available to him, and which high-profile full back was going to miss out on the 26-man squad.

Now, Southgate is going further and further down his list just to fill seats on the plane.

Chelsea's Reece James had stolen ahead of a packed field to make his spot on the right of England's back five his own, but a knee injury picked up on Oct. 11 against AC Milan ruled him out for eight weeks.

Such a break would see him miss England's group opener against Iran on Nov. 21. He remains hopeful of shortening that timescale.

"I will try and not rule myself out," he told The Sun newspaper. "The Chelsea medical staff have not given me a percentage of my chance of being back for the World Cup. It's down to how I feel closer to the