Thomas Tuchel explains England right-back selection against Norway amid Reece James injury update | OneFootball

Chelsea skipper has been sidelined with a niggling injury

Thomas Tuchel has issued an update on Reece James after the right-back returned to the England squad against Norway.

The Chelsea captain suffered a hamstring injury during the Three Lions’ 0-0 draw with Ghana in the group stage.

Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa have since played in his place, with Quansah getting the nod against Panama and Mexico, while Spence slotted in against the DR Congo in the last 32.

Konsa was forced to shift from centre-back to full-back against Mexico after Quansah’s red card at the Estadio Azteca, and the Aston Villa man was in the right-back berth against Norway, with John Stones coming in at centre-back to partner Marc Guehi, who himself had been an injury concern in the lead-up to the quarter-final with a hamstring strain.

Picked: Ezri Konsa

Getty

The Manchester City man was passed fit to play in Miami, Florida, and started at the heart of defence, while Noni Madueke came in for Bukayo Saka on the right flank and Declan Rice also overcame an injury concern to sit alongside Elliot Anderson in the engine room.

Ahead of the last-eight encounter at the Hard Rock Stadium, Tuchel gave an update on his right-back situation.

"We lost another right back with Jarell Quansah and his red card,” the German explained.

“Reece James is available but maybe not for 90 minutess - I'd like to have him as an option from the bench. Ezri Konsa played there for us on the highest level, John Stones trained on the highest level and had a good match in Mexico."

Tottenham’s Spence would have been the likeliest natural solution to replace James and come in at right-back, although the Spurs man has been used as an alternative left-back for Nico O’Reilly at times in this tournament.