Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice right-back Reece James is running out of time to prove his fitness ahead of the match against Mexico, while Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah are also doubts for selection.
Thomas Tuchel remains troubled by England’s right-back crisis, with Reece James racing against the clock to prove his availability. Before the squad departed for Mexico City for their final training session, Tuchel had received no confirmation that any right-back would be fit to feature.
It is understood that Djed Spence only took part in a secondary recovery training session on Friday rather than full team drills, and Tuchel refuses to take unnecessary risks to avoid losing more players to injury.
Reports indicate Reece James skipped Friday’s full group training, leaving him the biggest uncertainty in Tuchel’s right-back options for the fixture with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
James has missed England’s games against Panama and the Democratic Republic of the Congo after sustaining a hamstring injury in the match versus Ghana.
The defender has remained optimistic about returning to action at the World Cup. After England beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their group stage fixture, a game he could only watch from the sidelines, James stated he was “okay” and “feeling good”.
Though James hasn’t given up hope of delivering positive fitness news to Tuchel on Friday, his window to prove he can play against Mexico is rapidly closing.
Quansah is believed to be slightly further along in his recovery than James, yet his availability for the Mexico game remains unconfirmed as staff fear rushing him back from an ankle sprain. While Quansah joined some tactical preparations for the fixture, it is unclear whether he was able to complete full training sessions.
Spence is expected to be available to face Mexico, but the Tottenham Hotspur player completed a second day of recovery training on Friday, suggesting he may still be suffering from minor discomfort. Another possibility is that Tuchel simply cannot afford to risk the player given the current depleted state of his right-back department.
Tuchel previously criticised Spence from the touchline, yet the 25-year-old could still be handed a starting berth against Mexico if James and Quansah are ruled out.
Declan Rice filled in at right-back late on against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and England’s vice-captain is ready to play through pain against Mexico.
Rice has been plagued by persistent hamstring and lower back soreness alongside hard tissue knocks, yet he has insisted firmly that he will be fit to play against Mexico.
Speaking after the game against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuchel said: “I asked him about his condition. He told me, ‘I can play for the team, but I am in a great deal of pain.’ When Declan tells you he is in severe pain, you know he is truly struggling.”
Tuchel’s alternative plan for the right-back position involves shifting Ezri Konsa out wide and restoring John Stones to central defence, though the German head coach is reluctant to split the established defensive partnership between Konsa and Marc Guéhi — a reshuffle that would require two wholesale adjustments to the backline.
