Will Declan Rice play for England tonight? Latest injury news for Arsenal midfielder

Over the last few days, we've seen a few sides able to rest and rotate for their final World Cup group game, having cemented top spot with a game to spare. United States and Norway have very much done so, with Argentina set to follow suit late on Saturday night. However, this is not a luxury afforded to England.

That's because, Thomas Tuchel's team failed to beat Ghana on Tuesday, held to a pretty miserable goalless draw in Foxborough, potentially lucky not to lose. Thus, the Three Lions must beat Panama in East Rutherford on Saturday night to secure top spot, meaning Tuchel cannot rotate too much.

Is Declan Rice expected to play for England tonight?

Put succinctly, Declan Rice is expected to start against Panama, but does not appear to be at 100% He was taken off mid-way through the second half of the opener against Croatia in Texas, before not appearing to be at maximum sharpness during Tuesday's draw in Massachusetts. Ahead of that Ghana game, Rice told ITV the following:

""I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time.. that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it.""

Reports suggest that Rice's participation in England's World Cup campaign is not currently doubtful, albeit his minutes will need to be carefully managed. Tuchel stated in his press conference on Friday that the Arsenal midfielder took part "in full training today [Friday]... but we will take the decision tonight". Thus, Rice is likely to start, especially considering other possible absentees.

England's central midfield depth chart at the World Cup

How Declan Rice has performed for England recently

Against Ghana earlier this week, Rice won his 75th senior England cap, to go with the three he picked up in a green Republic of Ireland shirt. The 27 year old has very much established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet for his country, starting all 21 major tournament matches since his debut.

At this World Cup, his tally of ten chances created is behind only club teammate Leandro Trossard (13), Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi (both 11), but they've all played an extra game, so Rice could overtake this trio in New Jersey. Rice scored his seventh England against Costa Rica in a pre-tournament friendly in Orlando, still looking for a first at a World Cup or Euros.

England team news vs Panama

It has not been an ideal week of preparation for Tuchel. First-choice right-back Reece James has suffered a hamstring injury, which'll rule him out of England's next two matches, and it is feared that it could be tournament ending. The manager said in his press conference "nobody could see it coming, Reece was in good shape", a bizarre comment about one of the most injury-prone players around.

Meantime, more pertinently for Rice, ahead of his £116 million move to Manchester City, Elliot Anderson is also a doubt due to muscle tightness. So, if Anderson is not risked, Kobbie Mainoo is likely to come into the starting lineup, with Jordan Henderson the alternative option. If Tuchel wanted a more left-field choice, preparing for Panama's low block, he could deploy Jude Bellingham deeper and bring in Arsenal transfer target Morgan Rogers, but we shall see.

England predicted starting lineup vs Panama

• Jordan Pickford

• Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi & Nico O'Reilly.

• Declan Rice & Kobbie Mainoo.

• Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham & Marcus Rashford.

• Harry Kane.

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