Need to know
The England full-back has been seen spotted regularly sporting a face mask during matches at this summer's World Cup
Djed Spence
Djed Spence has impressed when called upon at this summer's World Cup(Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
All you need to know about why Djed Spence has been wearing a face mask for England at the World Cup
Essential protective gear: England defender Djed Spence will likely wear his custom-fitted carbon-fibre mask again when the Three Lions face Argentina in Wednesday's crunch World Cup semi-final. The 25-year-old has worn the protective headgear throughout the tournament in North America – apart from during extra time in the quarter-final victory over Norway.
Severe jaw fracture: The Tottenham Hotspur full-back is still recovering from a broken jaw sustained while playing for Spurs at the end of last season. He suffered the significant injury back in May after copping a stray elbow from Chelsea striker Liam Delap.
Lengthy healing process: Medical professionals initially predicted that the severe fracture would take around three months to completely heal. Because of this extended recovery timeline, Spence has relied on the specialised mask to ensure he can continue to play safely.
Playing through pain: Despite the significant discomfort involved, the resilient defender has showcased remarkable toughness by playing through the pain barrier. He featured for Spurs just five days after the initial incident to help them avoid Premier League relegation against Everton.
Adapting to heat: Spence has openly admitted that wearing the heavy gear in the intense summer heat has been physically challenging. However, he has worked hard to become accustomed to it during training sessions and matches under the watchful eye of England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Huge semi-final clash: The masked defender is expected to feature in some capacity against La Albiceleste this Wednesday at the Atlanta Stadium. He will be aiming to help the Three Lions secure a famous victory and book a spot in the final for the first time since 1966.
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