England have been handed a timely double boost ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup clash with Ghana as Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice both trained on Saturday, easing fears over their fitness. However, Bukayo Saka looks set to start on the bench for the second successive game as he continues to nurse an achilles problem.
Manager Thomas Tuchel revealed the winger is still not ready to complete a full 90 minutes, having only made a substitute appearance in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. The news of Rashford and Rice training will come as a relief after the duo picked up minor knocks in that victory, and both are expected to be in contention to face the Black Stars in Houston.
Boost for the Three Lions
Marcus Rashford, who plays his club football for Manchester United, was a standout performer against Croatia, scoring a superb long-range strike to help secure the three points. He appeared to be limping slightly at full-time, but his participation in the weekend session suggests any discomfort was minor. Declan Rice of Arsenal also trained without issue after being withdrawn late on as a precaution.
“Both are fine. They trained fully today and showed great energy,” Tuchel told reporters at England’s training base in Houston. “It’s a long tournament and we need everyone, so to have them available is very important.”
Saka’s Fitness Race
The picture is less clear for Bukayo Saka, however. The Arsenal forward remained indoors for individual work on Saturday, focusing on recovery rather than joining the main group. Tuchel admitted the situation needs careful handling.
“Bukayo is still managing that achilles issue. He’s not yet at a point where he can play a full 90 minutes at this intensity,” Tuchel said. “We will continue to assess him, but it’s likely he’ll start from the bench again. We have to be cautious.”
Saka came on as a second-half substitute against Croatia and showed glimpses of his quality, but the medical staff want to avoid aggravating the problem. With a quarter-final spot within reach, England are taking no risks.
What It Means for England’s Lineup
Should Saka remain among the substitutes, Phil Foden is expected to retain his place on the right of the attack after an impressive showing against Croatia. Rashford’s return to fitness means he will compete with Jack Grealish for the left-wing berth, while Rice is a near-certain starter in midfield alongside Jude Bellingham.
Ghana will present a different challenge. The Black Stars lost their opener 2-1 to Uruguay and are fighting to keep their tournament alive. Their physical style could test England’s resilience, making the availability of robust players like Rice crucial.
Key Takeaways
- Rashford and Rice trained fully on Saturday and are expected to be available to face Ghana.
- Bukayo Saka is likely to be on the bench again as he continues to manage an achilles problem.
- Thomas Tuchel is cautious about Saka’s workload and does not believe he can complete 90 minutes.
- England will aim to build on their 4-2 win over Croatia and move closer to the knockout stage.
- Ghana, needing a result, could pose a physical test in Houston.
Quick Facts
Fixture: England vs Ghana
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C
Date: Tuesday 23 June 2026
Kick-off: 9pm BST / 4pm ET / 6am AEST (Wednesday)
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston
England’s last result: 4-2 win vs Croatia
Ghana’s last result: 2-1 defeat vs Uruguay
Information sourced from The Guardian.
