Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino makes Ben Chilwell and Reece James England Euro 2024 prediction

Mauricio Pochettino believes Chelsea defenders Reece James and Ben Chilwell will be included in Gareth Southgate's preliminary Euro 2024 squad next week.

Both players have endured frustrating seasons with the Blues, missing large chunks of the campaign due to injury. But on Saturday James made his first appearance since undergoing surgery on the hamstring injury he suffered in December, even setting up Nicolas Jackson's winner in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.

Chilwell could return to the bench on Wednesday against Brighton & Hove Albion having played only 10 first-team minutes since early March. Asked whether Chilwell would be ready in time for summer, Pochettino said: "Yes, I think so. We need to assess whether he can be in the squad for tomorrow, but maybe for the weekend (against Bournemouth) he can be available.

"If he is available I think he can go very quick and be part of it, if the national team and Gareth Southgate thinks it's possible, he can be. (James) is training really well. Now we need to control also the game time, because we want this to finish the season really strong. We hope (Wednesday) he will have the possibility to play."

Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer are also in contention to be named in Southgate's provisional 26-man squad on May 21. Pochettino believes providing players for the England team is a way for foreign coaches to "repay" what the game in this country has given them.

READ MORE: Reece James decision, Mykhailo Mudryk dropped – Predicted Chelsea line-up for Brighton clash

READ MORE: Wesley Fofana injury return timeline revealed as Mauricio Pochettino explains Chelsea plan

"When I arrived at Southampton (in 2013) it was something I always felt really proud of, to provide players to the national team, because we are so grateful to English football and you all," he said. "The way that (the country) received us and the welcome.

"The way that you make us feel, being from another country to here. The way that we can repay you all is to try to respect the identity of the country, the identity of the culture of football, and to respect English football through the players.

"We love the English culture. In every single club, we want to be grateful through giving the possibility to English football to have talented players. The way English people treated us when we were at Southampton and Tottenham and here, always it's really an amazing thing. Not only us, our families, the way they feel here. That is why I feel home when I am in England."