It's a double-edged sword for Gareth Southgate as Declan Rice returns to training, but Reece James' injury woes continue to cause concern ahead of England's showdown with Panama. The Three Lions' hopes of securing top spot in Group L and plotting a more favourable route through the knockout stages rely heavily on avoiding any further setbacks.
Rice, who was absent from Thursday's session due to a calf issue, has been given the green light by the medical team and rejoined his teammates for Friday's training. However, it remains to be seen if he'll start against Panama, with just one booking away from a suspension in the last-32 match.
James, on the other hand, continues to be a significant doubt after complaining of a hamstring issue following the goalless draw with Ghana. The Chelsea full-back has been confined to an individual programme indoors and is set to miss Saturday's crunch encounter against Panama. With James potentially out for longer than initially thought, there are growing fears that he could also be absent from England's first knockout game.
The ongoing injury crisis has thrown a spotlight on manager Gareth Southgate's squad selection, particularly his decision to include only three recognised full-backs for the tournament. With Tino Livramento already ruled out and Djed Spence being the other genuine option, the depth in this position now appears stretched. Nico O'Reilly, primarily a midfielder, has been drafted in at left-back, while Spence and central defenders Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa are alternative considerations for the right-back role.
Panama, meanwhile, will be looking to cause an upset against a weakened England side. The Panamanians had an animated training session on Friday, with two players needing to be separated after a physical altercation – their coach Thomas Christiansen surprisingly viewing it as a positive sign of team spirit. For England, the focus will now be on securing a comfortable win and hoping for positive news regarding James' recovery in the days leading up to the knockout rounds.
The absence of James would undoubtedly be a blow to England's defensive options and tactical flexibility. His attacking prowess from right-back is a key component of England's play, and finding an adequate replacement who can offer similar contributions will be a challenge for Southgate. England must now navigate these uncertain waters and hope that their star player makes a swift return.