According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur star Djed Spence is set to start for England in their World Cup round of 32 tie against DR Congo.
Over the weekend, England beat Panama 2-0 to seal top spot in Group L and a simpler route to the final of the World Cup.
The Three Lions are now finalising their preparations for their round of 32 tie vs DR Congo, while matches against Mexico, Brazil and Argentina await in the later rounds.
However, head coach Thomas Tuchel has had several selection headaches at the start of the World Cup, and this is partly due to injuries.
England have mainly have been impacted by right-back, with Tino Livramento ruled out of the tournament before Reece James missed the group game against Panama.
In Jamesâ absence, Bayer Leverkusen star Jarell Quansah, who is a natural centre-back, filled in at right-back, but he was forced off during the Panama match with a twisted ankle.
READ: Is Bellingham still âdivisive soloistâ and âangry young manâ who England shouldnât have taken to World Cup?
And ahead of Wednesdayâs match against DR Congo, journalist Jacob Steinberg has told The Guardian that Quansah is âlikely to missâ this game, while James back will also be unavailable for the game and is also âincreasingly unlikelyâ to feature in the round of 16 against Mexico or Ecuador.
Without these two players, it is hardly surprising that Steinberg insists Spence is the âfavouriteâ and is âexpected to startâ at right-back against DR Congo.
England given Declan Rice âboostâ
Still, there is better news regarding Rice after he was rested for the Panama match, with Steinberg stating that the Arsenal midfielder is âto returnâ.
READ MORE: England make Thomas Tuchel âwearily disgustedâ but itâs all fine
However, Paul Scholes has explained why he thinks Elliot Anderson should start instead of Rice against DR Congo.
âEngland donât need to play two sitting midfielders in the next game,â Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
âNo disrespect to Congo but in those type of games you play as many attackers as possible. I think it has to be a straight shootout between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I think I would just go with Anderson.
âI think he will pass it forward a bit more. Think about Rice with Arsenal⊠look, heâs a great player and a great leader, I get all that, and youâd rather him in your team than not most of the time.
âBut Arsenal didnât play great football last season either, did they? Rice couldnât get [Martin] Odegaard in the game, so maybe thatâs transferred a bit to England. I donât think that happens with Anderson.â
Over the weekend, England beat Panama 2-0 to seal top spot in Group L and a simpler route to the final of the World Cup.
The Three Lions are now finalising their preparations for their round of 32 tie vs DR Congo, while matches against Mexico, Brazil and Argentina await in the later rounds.
However, head coach Thomas Tuchel has had several selection headaches at the start of the World Cup, and this is partly due to injuries.
England have mainly have been impacted by right-back, with Tino Livramento ruled out of the tournament before Reece James missed the group game against Panama.
In Jamesâ absence, Bayer Leverkusen star Jarell Quansah, who is a natural centre-back, filled in at right-back, but he was forced off during the Panama match with a twisted ankle.
READ: Is Bellingham still âdivisive soloistâ and âangry young manâ who England shouldnât have taken to World Cup?
And ahead of Wednesdayâs match against DR Congo, journalist Jacob Steinberg has told The Guardian that Quansah is âlikely to missâ this game, while James back will also be unavailable for the game and is also âincreasingly unlikelyâ to feature in the round of 16 against Mexico or Ecuador.
Without these two players, it is hardly surprising that Steinberg insists Spence is the âfavouriteâ and is âexpected to startâ at right-back against DR Congo.
England given Declan Rice âboostâ
Still, there is better news regarding Rice after he was rested for the Panama match, with Steinberg stating that the Arsenal midfielder is âto returnâ.
READ MORE: England make Thomas Tuchel âwearily disgustedâ but itâs all fine
However, Paul Scholes has explained why he thinks Elliot Anderson should start instead of Rice against DR Congo.
âEngland donât need to play two sitting midfielders in the next game,â Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
âNo disrespect to Congo but in those type of games you play as many attackers as possible. I think it has to be a straight shootout between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I think I would just go with Anderson.
âI think he will pass it forward a bit more. Think about Rice with Arsenal⊠look, heâs a great player and a great leader, I get all that, and youâd rather him in your team than not most of the time.
âBut Arsenal didnât play great football last season either, did they? Rice couldnât get [Martin] Odegaard in the game, so maybe thatâs transferred a bit to England. I donât think that happens with Anderson.â
