Injury Concerns Ahead of Norway Match
England defender Marc Guehi is scheduled for an assessment on Friday to determine his fitness for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final match against Norway. The centre-back sustained a slight hamstring injury following England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16 at the Azteca Stadium. Initially, it was believed the issue was muscular fatigue, with hopes he would be fit for the upcoming game.
However, reports indicate the Manchester City defender is dealing with a hamstring strain. Guehi is reportedly eager to prove his fitness and remains optimistic about his involvement. Should he be unable to train with the squad on Friday, his inclusion against Norway would be in significant doubt.
The injury is not considered serious, but with Norway’s Erling Haaland, who has scored seven goals in the tournament, posing a considerable threat, England head coach Thomas Tuchel is unlikely to risk players who are not fully fit in defence.
Squad Fitness Updates
In other fitness news, right-back Reece James returned to training on Thursday and is in contention for the match. James had been unavailable since injuring a hamstring during the goalless draw with Ghana. He did not complete the entire training session but is expected to be available for the Norway fixture, provided he experiences no adverse effects from Thursday’s session.
Conversely, midfielder Declan Rice 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. Steps have been taken by England to prevent the spread of the bug within the squad.
The return of James is a welcome boost for Tuchel, particularly given the challenges England has faced 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 began, leading to Chelsea central defender Trevoh Chalobah being called up as his replacement. Chalobah is also capable of playing at full-back. With these issues, Djed Spence was potentially the only natural right-back available for the Norway match prior to James’s return to training.
Midfield and Opposition Outlook
Despite his recent arm fracture, Jordan Henderson has returned to the England camp in Kansas City. The midfielder underwent surgery after a fall following the Mexico game. While it has been presumed Henderson will not play again in the tournament, teammate Morgan Rogers indicated that the players are not ruling him out, highlighting Henderson’s leadership and experience as valuable to the squad.
Rogers also spoke about Jude Bellingham, noting his explosive form in the tournament and suggesting he is only going to improve further. Bellingham, who is 23, is expected to make a significant impact in the quarter-final. Rogers expressed no surprise at Bellingham’s performances, stating that he has consistently delivered in crucial moments.
Norway, meanwhile, are preparing for a significant challenge. Their captain, Martin Ødegaard, expressed confidence, drawing parallels to their victory against Brazil. He acknowledged England’s strong squad but stated that Norway would give their best effort. Reports of sickness in the Norwegian camp were downplayed by Ødegaard and head coach Ståle Solbakken, with no significant concerns for Saturday’s match.
England’s base camp strategy in Kansas City has been praised by Rogers, who noted the benefits of having a fixed location, contrasting it with Norway’s approach of travelling between venues. The team enjoyed a mini-break after the demanding Mexico match, including a complete day off on Tuesday, allowing players to spend time with their families before resuming preparations for the quarter-final.
The upcoming quarter-final against Norway is scheduled for Saturday in Miami.
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Source: bbc.com
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As News-GB's Sports Reporter, Megan Sinclair reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name interviewing rising British talent. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Edinburgh and completed an NCTJ diploma. Megan lives in Edinburgh, where she plays club tennis and follows track athletics. “Give the athletes room and the story tells itself.”