Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek launch push for England start against Panama at training as Dele Alli is sent for scan on thigh injury… with rest of stars given day off after arriving back at 6am from Volgograd
- England beat Tunisia 2-1 in their opening World Cup game on Monday night
- Dele Alli sustained a thigh problem in the first half and was later substituted
- The midfielder was seen limping out of the stadium following the match
- He will a scan on Tuesday and is a doubt for Sunday’s game against Panama
Dele Alli will have a scan on Tuesday to assess the thigh injury he picked in England’s 2-1 World Cup victory over Tunisia as Gareth Southgate’s side sweat on his fitness ahead of Sunday’s clash against Panama.
The talented midfielder sustained the problem during the first half on Monday night and was nearly substituted before half time with Fabian Delph stripped to come on.
But Alli lasted until the latter stages of the second half, seemingly allaying fears of serious injury.
England midfielder Dele Alli is a doubt for Sunday’s clash against Panama with a thigh injury
The Tottenham star sustained a thigh problem during the first half against Tunisia on Monday
His likely replacements such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek (L) trained back in Repino on Tuesday
However, Alli was seen limping out of the stadium after the game and will now undergo a scan on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, his likely replacements in the starting XI in Nizhny Novgorod, Delph, Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, trained at their Repino base on Tuesday.
Gareth Southgate’s squad didn’t arrive back from Volgograd until 6am following Monday night’s match and those who started against Tunisia have been given the day off.
Alli was also absent as he went to find out the extent of his injury, having tried to ease concerns following the match, saying: ‘Hopefully I am okay.’
Southgate said: ‘We had to keep monitoring Dele. He was feeling a bit of an issue just before half-time, but felt he could carry on.
Marcus Rashford, who impressed off the bench against Tunisia, is also pushing for a start
Southgate gave his starting XI from Volgograd the day off as the rest of the squad trained
‘The runs he was making was still causing problems. He had a half chance from Jordan Henderson’s pass, but we had good options on the bench.
‘The freshness of Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek would bring energy and a different threat to the one we’d posed.
‘They had a good impact on the game. So did the four forwards who started the game. Their movement and runs and interchanges were a real problem. A lot of things to be pleased with.’
Fabian Delph (R) was stripped to come on as Sterling was nearly substituted before half time
Alli lasted until the latter stages of the second half before eventually being substituted
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