Declan Rice is at risk of suspension following England’s World Cup stalemate against Ghana, to compound his latest injury worries.
The Arsenal midfielder was booked for a challenge on Ghana centre-back Jerome Opoku in the 41st minute of Tuesday’s goalless Group L draw in Boston.
Two yellow cards at the World Cup leads to an automatic one-game suspension, with single yellows wiped after the group stage concludes.
Cautions are later wiped for a second time as part of the expanded 48-team format that includes a newly-created round of 32 - after the quarter-finals.
That means that only a red-card offence in the semi-finals would prevent a player from featuring in the final.
Rice is an ever-present in midfield for both England and Arsenal, though that suspension risk coupled with his injury concerns gives head coach Thomas Tuchel a big decision to make for Saturday’s final Group L fixture against Panama in New Jersey.
If the former West Ham star - who was not cautioned against Croatia - were to be booked in that game, he would miss England’s contest in the last 32.
Rice was spotted limping after the Ghana match - in which he completed the full 90 minutes - and was later seen with heavy strapping around his left calf.
He was previously subject to a rare substitution after 72 minutes of the opening 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas as a precautionary move, revealing that he has been managing neural pain in his upper hamstring and lower back since Christmas at Arsenal.
Speaking after the Ghana game, Rice did not comment on his fitness but said he believed England still had a great chance to finish top of Group L.
“It is always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball as deep as they were, but you have to find solutions. In the last 10 minutes, we were unlucky not to score,” Rice said.
“We still have a great chance to top the group against Panama, so positivity all round.
“They [Ghana] were very compact, 5-4-1 off the ball and tight spaces to play through. But on the other hand, we can do more with the ball.
“You have to give credit to Ghana. It’s tough, and they are good players, so it was never going to be an easy game. We have one more group game to top the group, so we have to be positive.”
