Three England players miss training ahead of Norway World Cup clash

England's preparations for their 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash against Norway have been disrupted by the absence of three key players from training. Midfielder Declan Rice, defender Marc Guéhi, and full-back Reece James did not participate in Wednesday's session at Swope Soccer Village.

Instead of joining the main group, Rice and Guéhi worked individually to manage fitness concerns. Rice has reportedly been dealing with a hamstring issue since Christmas but is still anticipated to be available for Saturday's match in Miami. Guéhi is understood to be experiencing muscle fatigue, though he is expected to partner Ezri Konsa in defense.

However, James's participation is in serious doubt. He has missed England's last three matches with a recurring hamstring injury and is now in a race against time to prove his fitness. The situation is further complicated by Jarell Quansah's suspension following a red card in the previous round against Mexico. Djed Spence is the likely replacement at right-back if James is unavailable.

Veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson, who underwent surgery for a broken arm, has returned to the team hotel but did not train. Manager Thomas Tuchel wants Henderson to remain with the squad due to his positive influence, despite being ruled out for the tournament. This training session was England's first since returning from Mexico City, following two days off for the players to spend time with their families.