Declan Rice remains in contention to face Panama despite missing England’s latest training session, with reports indicating the Arsenal midfielder’s absence was precautionary rather than a sign of a serious injury concern.
The 27-year-old did not train with his England team-mates on Thursday at the squad’s base in Kansas City after picking up a knock during the goalless World Cup draw with Ghana.
Rice was seen leaving the stadium with heavy strapping on his left calf following the match, raising fresh concerns after he had already revealed he has been managing nerve pain in his hamstring since Christmas.
However, the latest indications suggest the issue is not considered significant enough to threaten his involvement beyond the immediate short term.
England manager Thomas Tuchel and his medical staff are instead carefully managing the midfielder’s workload after an exhausting campaign for club and country.
Rice has already admitted he has been putting his body on the line since Arsenal’s title-winning run-in, while Tuchel substituted him against Croatia to avoid aggravating his ongoing hamstring problem.
That cautious approach appears set to continue ahead of Saturday’s final Group L fixture against Panama.
Reports suggest Rice is fit enough to start if required, although England could decide to rest him with one eye on the knockout rounds.
Another factor in Tuchel’s thinking is Rice’s disciplinary situation.
The Arsenal midfielder collected a yellow card against Ghana and would miss England’s round-of-32 clash if he receives another booking against Panama.
With England still needing a positive result to guarantee top spot in Group L, Tuchel must balance securing qualification with protecting one of his most influential players.
Rice has started both World Cup matches so far and remains one of the first names on the England teamsheet when fully fit.
His importance has only grown following another outstanding season with Arsenal, where he played a pivotal role in delivering the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years.
While Rice’s outlook is encouraging, the situation appears less positive for Reece James.
The Chelsea defender also missed Thursday’s session after suffering hamstring tightness against Ghana and is considered a major doubt for the Panama encounter, with alternative options being prepared at right-back.
Although Rice’s training programme has been modified to aid his recovery, all indications are that the midfielder remains on course to feature against Panama should Tuchel decide the risk is worth taking.
Whether he starts or is preserved for the knockout stages, England’s medical staff appear confident the issue is manageable rather than a significant setback.