England defender Marc Guehi faces fitness assessment for World Cup quarter-final
England defender Marc Guehi is set to undergo an assessment on Friday to determine his availability for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final match against Norway. The centre-back sustained a slight hamstring injury during England‘s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16 at the Azteca Stadium.
Initially, there was hope that Guehi was experiencing muscular fatigue and would be fit for the match. However, it has since been understood that the Manchester City defender has a hamstring strain. Despite this, Guehi is reportedly eager to prove his fitness and remains optimistic about his involvement in the upcoming game.
Injury Concerns and Squad Availability
If Guehi is unable to train with the squad on Friday, his inclusion against Norway will be in significant doubt. While the injury is not considered serious, England head coach Thomas Tuchel is unlikely to take fitness risks with defenders, especially with Norway‘s seven-goal striker Erling Haaland to contend with.
Midfielder Declan Rice has missed a second consecutive day of training due to a sickness bug. Rice has also been managing a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back, which has been exacerbated by his illness. Measures have been taken by England to prevent the spread of the bug within the squad.
In more positive news for Tuchel, first-choice right-back Reece James returned to full training on Thursday. James had been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during the goalless draw with Ghana. He did not complete the entire training session but is expected to be available for the match against Norway, provided he experiences no adverse effects from Thursday’s session.
James‘ return is a welcome boost for England, particularly given the issues at right-back due to injuries and suspensions. Jarell Quansah, who started at right-back against Mexico, has been banned for two games following a red card in the round-of-16 tie. Newcastle‘s Tino Livramento sustained a calf injury before the tournament, leading to Chelsea central defender Trevoh Chalobah being called up as his replacement.
With these absences, Djed Spence was potentially the only natural right-back available for the Norway game. Guehi‘s fitness adds another challenge for Tuchel. Should Guehi be unavailable, John Stones, Dan Burn, and Chalobah are all options at centre-back.
Team Spirit and Preparations
Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa, who can also cover at right-back, shared his experience of playing in that position during the victory against Mexico. He highlighted the difficulty of adapting to the role, especially with the heat and playing with a man down. Konsa praised John Stones for his encouragement during the match, noting that Stones even offered to swap positions.
Konsa expressed his willingness to play wherever the manager requires him, stating, “I’ll always play wherever the manager wants me to play. As long as I’m on that pitch and helping the team, I’m happy no matter where I’m playing.”
Jordan Henderson has rejoined the England camp in Kansas City after undergoing surgery for an arm fracture sustained after the Mexico game. While it was initially presumed Henderson would not play again in the tournament, teammate Morgan Rogers suggested that the players are not ruling him out, highlighting Henderson‘s leadership and experience as vital to the squad.
England‘s players had a warm-down session in Kansas City on Monday and a full day off on Tuesday following the physically demanding match against Mexico. The team’s fixed base camp in Kansas City has been beneficial, providing a sense of familiarity and comfort, according to Rogers. This contrasts with Norway‘s approach of travelling from venue to venue.
Rogers also spoke about Jude Bellingham‘s impressive form in the tournament, stating that he is ready to make an impact in the quarter-final and is expected to continue improving. Meanwhile, Norway‘s Martin Ødegaard acknowledged the challenge of facing England but expressed confidence, recalling their victory against Brazil. Reports of sickness in the Norway camp were downplayed by Ødegaard and head coach Ståle Solbakken, with no significant concerns for Saturday’s match.
England will face Norway in Miami on Saturday.
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Source: bbc.co.uk