England hit by fresh injury and illness doubts ahead of Norway World Cup clash

England's World Cup quarter-final preparations have been hit by fresh doubts over two key players, with Marc Guehi and Declan Rice both missing training on Thursday. The pair are now major concerns for Saturday's showdown against Norway.

According to reports, Guehi has sustained a hamstring strain, while Rice has been absent from training for two days due to a sickness bug. England's medical staff are working to prevent the illness from spreading within the squad, with the Norwegian camp also reportedly affected by a similar issue.

Injury and illness concerns

Guehi has played every minute of England's World Cup campaign since a brief cameo in the opening win over Croatia, forming a reliable partnership at centre-back. His potential absence would force a change in defence, with Dan Burn tipped as a possible replacement given the physical battle expected against Erling Haaland.

Rice, meanwhile, has been playing through pain for much of the tournament, and the sickness bug has now disrupted his preparation further. His availability remains uncertain, and England may need to adjust their midfield setup if he is unable to start.

• Marc Guehi doubtful with a hamstring strain after missing training on Thursday
• Declan Rice absent for two days due to a sickness bug; England taking steps to prevent spread
• Both players need to train on Friday to have a chance of starting against Norway
• Dan Burn considered a potential replacement for Guehi to counter Erling Haaland's physicality
• Reece James returned to training on Thursday, boosting England's defensive options

On a more positive note, right-back Reece James trained with the squad on Thursday after recovering from a hamstring problem, offering manager Thomas Tuchel a timely boost. James has missed the last three games, and his return could be crucial as England prepare for a high-stakes quarter-final.