Djed Spence's World Cup hopes hang by a thread, as the Tottenham right-back suffers a muscular niggle that threatens to rule him out of England's crunch showdown with Mexico. The 25-year-old started at right-back in the Lions' nail-biting 1-0 win over DR Congo, but his availability for Sunday night's blockbuster clash (Monday 01:00 BST) at the Azteca Stadium is now very much in doubt.
This latest injury blow adds to Thomas Tuchel's defensive woes, particularly in the right-back position. Reece James, Chelsea's talismanic captain, remains a significant doubt after picking up a hamstring issue late on in the goalless draw against Ghana. The 26-year-old has missed England's last two matches and was conspicuous by his absence from Saturday's training session in Mexico City, opting for an individual recovery programme instead. The Football Association has confirmed he needs a late assessment to determine his fitness – even if it means taking him on as a substitute.
Jarell Quansah is available again after recovering from his ankle injury that kept him out of the DR Congo tie, but Tuchel's options for a specialist right-back remain thin. Spence had previously played at left-back in the Ghana draw and came off the bench to good effect in wins against Croatia and Panama. If his muscular problem proves severe enough to keep him on the sidelines, it would force Tuchel into making more defensive adjustments.
This is just the latest chapter in a right-back crisis that Tuchel acknowledged before the DR Congo match. Newcastle's Tino Livramento was ruled out of the World Cup squad with a calf issue even before kick-off, and Tuchel opted to call up Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah as a replacement – rather than a recognised right-back like Trent Alexander-Arnold. This decision has raised eyebrows, highlighting the manager's tactical preferences or perceived lack of suitable alternatives.
Should Spence be unable to feature, Tuchel's only other natural option at right-back within the current squad is Ezri Konsa. However, Konsa has started all four of England's World Cup matches so far in a central defensive role – making a positional change for such a critical knockout fixture a significant decision. The ongoing injury concerns could also prompt a potential shift in England's tactical formation to accommodate the available personnel.
Source: BBC Sport