It's likely Chelsea will breathe a sigh of relief that the decision was made for Reece James to not join up with England during the international break. The Blues captain has instead remained around Cobham training with Chelsea's remaining stars to ensure he can sustain his fitness having participated in a steady return from injury.

The Three Lions are set to play North Macedonia on Monday night at a stadium that hosts a pitch deemed 'shameful' by the hosts' own player Elif Elmas when his side drew with Italy in September. Ciro Immobile noted "it could be dangerous'". That assessment came after the Tose Proeski Arena was banned in August from hosting European matches.

The pitch has since been relaid but that has come with its own issues. Having been done just six weeks ago it appears the pitch is yet to fully knit with the suggestion that 'coarse sand and stones' remain.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have already seen a star player injured whilst competing on a substandard field. Christopher Nkunku has yet to play in a competitive match having been forced off aqainst Borussia Dortmund during pre-season. With James' return to the pitch going well the Blues will have been relieved to keep the 23-year-old closer to home.

Pochettino said ahead of the international break: "I think, never it is the decision of the player. It is about assessing, the medical staff, the sport science and coaching staff, we always take decisions. Not the players. The players cannot assess themself. They can sometimes feel something.

"He is desperate to go to the national team. I think it's good for the national team to have communication with the club, to take the best decision for the player, the national team and for Chelsea. Not the decisions of Reece, Reece is desperate to go but always it is two parts, the national team and the club that take the best decision for him. After all of his problems and now he starts to feel fit again. I am happy he is going to be with us because it's two weeks to work again. For sure he can have the opportunity to join the national team in the future."

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The Blues of course, still have Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer on international duty. They will hope the duo return unscathed having been contenders to be Chelsea's player of the season so far.

Palmer made his senior England debut on Friday in the win over Malta and could yet receive his first start. Gallagher started that match despite arriving on international duty with a knock.

Southgate said of the Cobham product: "This week is a classic for me. He has come with a bit of a knock from the weekend, but he walked through the door saying, 'It is a bit sore, but I will be fine for Friday'. There was no way he was going home, there was no way he wasn’t going to give himself every chance. He wasn’t able to train for the first few days, but he was determined he would be available - and that, in a nutshell, is what is going to be one of his greatest strengths which will allow himself to achieve everything he might in the game. His mentality is outstanding."

However, ahead of the game against Macedonia, Southgate suggested no risks would be taken.

"That's why you want to make sure you're qualified well in advance. We said that right at the start of the qualifying campaign, you're never quite sure what you're going to get away from home."

He added: "No, we wouldn't take any chances with players. Jarrod Bowen hasn't travelled. He was just feeling something after training and we didn't have time to really assess it.

"It would probably need a scan to give us the confidence that we're not taking a chance. We never take a chance with a player, really."