Declan Rice is expected to return to England’s starting XI for their knockout match against DR Congo in Atlanta, with manager Thomas Tuchel optimistic the Arsenal midfielder will be fit despite missing part of the squad’s training schedule ahead of the win over Panama. Rice, 27, did return in time for England’s final session before the squad travelled to New Jersey, and Tuchel is confident he will be available.
With Rice absent from the full training programme, Tuchel opted for a midfield pairing of Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham against Panama. The England manager will be hoping to restore his first-choice setup for Wednesday’s last-16 tie.
The bigger injury concerns surround Reece James and Jarell Quansah. Chelsea full-back James missed the Panama game after picking up a hamstring injury against Ghana, and while Tuchel has not ruled him out for the DR Congo match, his return is understood to be more likely to come later in the tournament.
Quansah’s situation is similarly uncertain. The Bayer Leverkusen defender will be assessed by England’s medical staff over the next 48 hours, but Tuchel has already admitted it will be “very tight” for the player to prove his fitness in time for Wednesday. Djed Spence came on to replace Quansah during the Panama game.
Should both James and Quansah fail to recover in time, Spence looks set to start at right-back against DR Congo, though Tuchel also has the option of deploying centre-back Ezri Konsa in that position.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
