Declan Rice has missed a second England training session through illness, leaving the Arsenal midfielder a doubt for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway.
BBC Sport reports that Rice has trained away from the main group as a precaution. England want to stop the sickness bug spreading before the last-eight tie in Miami.
The illness has also aggravated the neural issue in Rice’s hamstring and lower back. He has managed that problem during the tournament, but England remain hopeful he will recover in time.
ReadArsenal covered England v Norway team news earlier today, with Rice and Martin Odegaard already central to the Arsenal subplot.
Odegaard Also Facing Illness Issue
The bug has not only affected England.
Odegaard has also been dealing with a cold-like virus in the Norway camp. That leaves both sides of the Arsenal midfield duel racing to be ready.
The timing gives Mikel Arteta plenty to monitor. Rice anchors England’s midfield, while Odegaard remains Norway’s key creator behind Erling Haaland.
ReadArsenal has already looked at how Odegaard’s Norway run has created a direct World Cup meeting with England. Now both players enter the tie with medical checks still to clear.
England have other concerns too. ESPN reports Marc Guehi missed Thursday’s session with hamstring pain, while Reece James has returned to full training. Jarell Quansah remains suspended.
For Arsenal, Rice’s fitness is the bigger worry. Illness should pass quickly, but the hamstring and lower-back issue adds caution.
If Rice recovers, he should still start in Miami. If not, England lose control in the one area where Norway can hurt them most.
