England doctors monitor West Ham United star Declan Rice as Gareth Southgate faces anxious wait v France
England were handed a blow this week after West Ham star Declan Rice was forced to miss training ahead of Saturday’s clash with France.
Rice has so far played in all of England’s World Cup matches, with his only rest coming in the final 30 minutes against Wales.
He featured for the full 90 minutes against Senegal and the Daily Mail reported that he covered more ground (12km) than any other England player.
However, Rice’s efforts seem to have caught up with him and he was absent from the Three Lions training session on Wednesday through illness as Gareth Southgate’s side prepare to face France in a blockbuster quarter-final tie on Saturday.
As reported by The Times, England doctors are set to monitor Rice’s illness and well-being before making a final call on whether or not he can face the 2018 champions.
Unfortunate
Rice will want nothing more than to return to full fitness and play the full 90 minutes against France on the weekend. It’s an absolutely crucial game for England as they look to go all the way in Qatar.
Rice has been paramount to Southgate’s squad this winter and while Jude Bellingham has been a standout performer, he’s only able to shine thanks to the defensive foundations laid out by the West Ham captain.
David Moyes will be nervously waiting in east London to hear about Rice’s illness and whether he’ll be rushed back or not to feature for the Three Lions.
The Scotsman will just want his midfield talisman back fit and healthy ready for the Premier League’s return on Boxing Day.
If Rice does miss out on the quarter-final clash, it would at least give the 23-year-old a much-needed rest after his heavy involvement in the tournament so far.
But all Moyes and West Ham fans can do now is wait for the final verdict from the doctors in the England camp.