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Declan Rice has disclosed that he has been coping with a persistent “neural pain” issue since December but assures fans that he is fully fit ahead of England’s upcoming World Cup group fixture against Ghana. The Arsenal midfielder, who was seen holding his hamstring during the Three Lions’ 4-2 victory over Croatia, sparked concern that manager Thomas Tuchel might lose one of his key players.

The sight of Rice walking off the pitch with 20 minutes left at the Dallas Stadium immediately caused anxiety among England supporters. However, the Arsenal star later clarified the situation, confirming that he has been managing a minor but ongoing fitness concern for several months while playing in north London.

“Yes, I’m ready,” Rice told ITV when asked about his availability for the Ghana game. “I’m fit and eager to go. I think it was a smart decision (to take me off). I was feeling a bit of neural pain in my hamstring, something I’ve been managing since after Christmas with Arsenal for quite a while. Obviously, not many people knew about it – it was all behind the scenes.”

Rice was quick to commend Thomas Tuchel’s “smart” decision to substitute him late in the match against Croatia, particularly with the short turnaround before Tuesday’s clash. The midfielder emphasised that managing his workload during the final stages of high-intensity games is essential to remaining fit throughout the tournament in North America.

“It was a smart decision,” Rice reiterated. “The last 20 minutes are often when you pick up most injuries. That’s when your body really starts to feel it. Over the last few days, I’ve been feeling really, really good.”

Meanwhile, fellow Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is also being closely monitored by England’s medical staff. The winger began the tournament on the bench due to an Achilles problem that has been troubling him in recent weeks. Despite limited minutes, Rice maintains that Saka will play a crucial role for the Three Lions as the competition progresses.

“One hundred per cent, yes,” Rice said when asked if Saka could still make a major impact. “The way we’ve been managing him has been excellent. Given the amount of football he’s played, and considering the Achilles issue he’s been dealing with at Arsenal, I think we’re handling it the right way. You don’t want to throw him in straight away and risk aggravating it.”

Although Saka’s playing time is being carefully managed, his influence remains significant after he set up Marcus Rashford’s goal in the opening match. Rice believes England’s squad depth, bolstered by the emergence of Noni Madueke, gives the team the flexibility to be cautious with their star winger during the early rounds of the competition.

“He’s training really well, and when he came on the other night, he made an incredible difference,” Rice said. “He’s one of the most clutch players I’ve ever played alongside, and he always wants to be on the pitch. But he’s being smart about it here, and with Noni performing brilliantly in these first few games, it allows us to manage things wisely.”