England are sweating over the fitness of key duo Reece James and Declan Rice ahead of their final World Cup group stage clash against Panama, according to the BBC.
The Three Lions have picked up four points from two Group L games so far, making the final fixture a must-win if they want to advance to the knockout rounds as table toppers.
However, they could be without James and Rice, who are said to be dealing with injury problems. James is set to undergo an assessment after complaining about a tightness in his hamstring.
While the severity of the issue is unclear, England’s coaching staff are expected to take a cautious approach given James’ well-documented injury history.
The Chelsea captain has already completed two full matches at the tournament, playing every minute against Croatia and Ghana, but managing his workload is a priority.
If James isn’t available to face Panama, head coach Thomas Tuchel has options to reshuffle his backline.
Aston Villa star Ezri Konsa could be moved to right back to cover for James despite playing at centre-back in England’s opening two World Cup matches.
Trevoh Chalobah is also an option after replacing the injured Valentino Livramento in the squad.
England are also monitoring Rice’s fitness, although his situation is believed to be of much less concern.
The Arsenal star was seen with a strapping on his left calf following the draw against Ghana, but he reassured reporters that he was feeling fine.
Rice has been dealing with nerve pain since Christmas. The issue popped up again during England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia, where he lasted 72 minutes on the pitch.
Meanwhile, there is growing optimism surrounding Bukayo Saka‘s fitness. The Arsenal winger has been working his way back from an Achilles problem that has limited his playing time in recent months.
While he has yet to start a match at the tournament, Saka has shown encouraging signs in his substitute appearances.
His 31-minute cameo in the goalless draw with Ghana injected energy into England’s attack and nearly led to a breakthrough.
He also made an impact against Croatia, providing an assist for Marcus Rashford after coming off the bench.
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