Kieran Trippier is a doubt for England’s last-16 tie against Slovakia after the defender missed training again on Friday, Sky Sports News has been told.
Trippier is still nursing a calf injury that dogged the end of his domestic season with Newcastle, but he has managed to start each of England’s three matches in the tournament.
If Trippier doesn’t manage to prove his fitness before Sunday’s game, it’s thought Gareth Southgate will turn to Ezri Konsa as a makeshift left-back ahead of Liverpool’s versatile defender Joe Gomez.
Sky Sports News has been told England are still hopeful Trippier will be fit to start the match in Gelsenkirchen although much will depend on how he fares in the next 24 hours.
Trippier missed training on Tuesday and again when England conducted a full training session behind closed doors, as is routine in the tournament, on Friday.
Sky Sports News has been told Southgate is planning to resist the clamour from outside for wholesale changes, as England begin the knockout phase of the tournament.
Assuming Trippier is fit to play, Kobbie Mainoo in for Conor Gallagher may be the only change from the starting XI that disappointingly drew 0-0 with Slovenia in the final group game on Tuesday.
That would mean Chelsea’s Cole Palmer will have to bide his time on the bench again despite being praised by Southgate for the impact he made when he came on in the second half in Cologne.
It’s thought Phil Foden took a full part in training on Friday in Blankenhain after returning to the camp following two days back home with his partner, following the birth of their third child. He is expected to be available for selection.
With the game against Slovakia still two days away, much could still change in Southgate’s mind over his team selection. But it’s understood his overall feeling is to resist the noise from outside to make changes, with the manager minded instead to tweak the team which he thinks is his strongest option.