England face an anxious wait over the fitness of Declan Rice and Reece James before their final World Cup group stage clash against Panama on Saturday.
Rice, 27, was seen limping out of the Boston Stadium following England’s goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday, with heavy strapping visible on his left calf.
Sources have indicated there is no major concern that the injury could impact his involvement on a longer-term basis in the United States.
However, the issue still requires both assessment and rest before a decision can be made on his availability for the Panama fixture.
England manager Thomas Tuchel and his staff will need to carefully weigh up the risks of including the Arsenal midfielder in the starting lineup.
Rice was also substituted during the game against Croatia, having been managing nerve pain in a sore hamstring throughout the tournament.
Chelsea captain Reece James will also require a fitness assessment as England prepare for Saturday’s match in New Jersey.
The 26-year-old completed the full ninety minutes against Ghana, but will be checked over by medics during the next 24 hours.
James has a well-documented history of injury problems, and his physical load will be monitored closely by England’s medical staff heading into the game.
With England needing a positive result against Panama to confirm their position in the tournament, Tuchel will be eager to have both players available.
Losing either Rice or James for the group finale would represent a significant blow to England’s hopes of building momentum ahead of the knockout rounds.
Saturday’s match in New Jersey will be a crucial opportunity for England to sharpen their performance after a frustrating start to the World Cup.
