Mexico vs. England: Three Lions given Reece James injury boost before World Cup last-16 clash

England person received a timely boost regarding the fittingness of right-back Reece James up of their 2026 World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico.

The Three Lions had skipper Harry Kane to convey for scoring 2 second-half goals successful a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory implicit a spirited DR Congo broadside successful Atlanta connected Wednesday.

Thomas Tuchel began the lucifer with Djed Spence astatine right-back, arsenic some James and Jarell Quansah were sidelined owed to injury.

While James has missed England’s past 2 World Cup games with a hamstring injury, Quansah came disconnected with a twisted ankle in the 2-0 group-stage triumph implicit Panama past weekend.

The Three Lions person besides had to header without right-back Tino Livramento, who was forced to propulsion retired of the 26-man squad earlier the tourney began aft sustaining a calf wounded which required surgery.

Prior to England’s triumph implicit DR Congo, Tuchel revealed astatine a property league that Quansah is somewhat person to returning to the archetypal squad than James.

“They’re getting close. I saw some of them connected the pitch,” Tuchel told reporters. “Jarrell is simply a small spot up of Reece, but the contention was close, adjacent to marque it into the squad this time.

James “feeling good” arsenic England person wounded boost earlier Mexico clash

However, The Athletic football analogous David Ornstein has said that James is aiming to beryllium disposable for England’s last-16 conflict with co-hosts Mexico astatine the Estadio Azteca successful the aboriginal hours of Monday greeting (UK time).

James watched connected from the seat arsenic England bushed DR Congo, and aft the match, the Chelsea defender provided a little update connected his fittingness successful the mixed zone.

“It’s ok; I’m feeling good”, James said, arsenic quoted by Ornstein, erstwhile commenting connected his hamstring recovery.

Considering that Spence did not bask his finest show successful a Three Lions shirt again DR Congo, the instrumentality of James would correspond a immense boost for England and Tuchel up of their gathering with Mexico.

James is simply a 26-cap England planetary who started some of England’s opening 2 group-stage games astatine the World Cup earlier picking up his injury.

Starting James, oregon either Quansah oregon Spence, would let Declan Rice to proceed successful his favoured midfield position, alternatively of switching to a makeshift right-back relation wherever the Arsenal prima finished the triumph implicit DR Congo.

Tuchel is expected to connection a caller update connected the fittingness of James and Quansah astatine a pre-match property league this play earlier the clash with Mexico.