Guehi a doubt for Norway clash after hamstring concern

Marc Guehi is a doubt for England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway after picking up a hamstring strain. He will be assessed on Friday, and if he cannot train with the squad, his place in the team will come under real threat.

There had initially been optimism that Guehi’s absence from training was only down to muscular fatigue, but the issue is now understood to be more serious than first thought. England cannot afford many fitness risks with Erling Haaland in such lethal form, so Thomas Tuchel will be cautious.

There is better news elsewhere. Reece James has returned to training and is in contention to play after recovering from his hamstring injury, while England also expect Declan Rice to be available despite missing a second straight session through illness and ongoing discomfort.

James’ return is especially important because England have already been stretched at right-back. Jarell Quansah is suspended, Tino Livramento is injured, and Trevoh Chalobah is only a makeshift option there, leaving Djed Spence as the only natural right-back in the squad if needed.

If Guehi is unavailable, England still have centre-back cover in John Stones, Dan Burn and Chalobah. But given the scale of the Norway threat, Tuchel will want his first-choice defenders available rather than improvising at the back.