Declan Rice is expected to be available for England's FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage clash against Ghana on Tuesday, despite being withdrawn early in the second half of the win over Croatia due to lower back discomfort.

The Arsenal midfielder's substitution prompted immediate concerns over his fitness ahead of the Boston encounter, but sources indicate the issue is not serious enough to rule him out of the match, which kicks off at 21:00.

It is understood the complaint is one Rice, 27, has been managing for some time and will need careful monitoring throughout the tournament.

Tuchel's assessment

England manager Thomas Tuchel addressed the situation after the Croatia match, noting he had observed Rice struggling on the ball before making the decision to withdraw him.