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Thomas Tuchel’s England campaign has received a timely boost before their second World Cup Group L encounter against Ghana. Both Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have returned to full training in Kansas City, easing concerns over possible injuries following their opening 4-2 triumph over Croatia.

Key duo resume full training

The England squad breathed a collective sigh of relief as Rashford and Rice were seen taking full part in Saturday’s training session. Rashford, who came off the bench to score against Croatia, had been dealing with a slight muscular strain, while Rice was substituted in the 72nd minute of that match after experiencing discomfort in his lower back and hamstring.

As reported by The Guardian, both players appeared to move smoothly during the passing drills as Tuchel oversaw the session. Rice, the vice-captain and a vital presence in midfield, is expected to retain his starting place, whereas Rashford is competing with Anthony Gordon for the left-wing role after proving his fitness with a strong showing following Friday’s recovery day.

Saka remains under careful management

While the updates on Rashford and Rice were encouraging, Bukayo Saka continues to be handled with care. The Arsenal winger stayed indoors rather than joining the main group in Kansas City, focusing on a personalised training plan. It now seems almost certain that Saka will once again start from the substitutes’ bench for Tuesday’s outing against Ghana in Boston.

Tuchel has been candid about the issue affecting his star forward, confirming that Saka is managing an ongoing Achilles problem. Although he remains a vital part of England’s attacking setup, the medical team is reluctant to risk him for the full duration of a match, particularly after he featured only briefly in the opening game in Dallas earlier this week.

Madueke expected to benefit from Saka’s absence

With Saka likely to be held back, Noni Madueke is poised to continue in the starting lineup. Madueke started on the right wing against Croatia and is in line to retain his position as England aim to strengthen their grip on top spot in Group L. Tuchel’s measured approach suggests he is keeping Saka fresh for the knockout rounds of the competition.

Speaking about Saka’s situation, Tuchel said: “Saka is managing an Achilles problem and is not ready to complete a full 90 minutes yet.” His remarks underline the coaching staff’s decision to focus on the winger’s long-term availability rather than short-term gain, confident in the squad’s overall depth that shone in their second-half performance against Croatia.

Kane eyes record-breaking milestone

Harry Kane will aim to continue his impressive run against Ghana and add to his World Cup tally, having scored twice against Croatia to take his total to 10 goals in the tournament.

The Bayern Munich striker’s brace saw him draw level with Gary Lineker as England’s joint-highest World Cup goalscorer, and he now has a prime opportunity to surpass Lineker and claim the record outright.