England's World Cup Challenge: Djed Spence's Injury Concerns

England face an unwelcome complication on the eve of their World Cup last-16 clash with Mexico, with Djed Spence struggling after reporting a muscular problem.

The 25-year-old, who impressed at right-back in the last-32 win over DR Congo, has complained of a niggle that has thrown his involvement at the Azteca Stadium into doubt. The nature of the issue remains unclear, and England must now wait to see whether the Tottenham defender can start in the high-altitude cauldron on Sunday night (Monday, 01:00 BST).

It is the last thing Thomas Tuchel needed.

His back line has already been shuffled once in this knockout run, and Spence’s potential absence would force the England head coach into yet another rethink. If the defender is not passed fit, Tuchel will have to rework a defence that has already been patched together.

Reece James is still a concern. The right-back continues to battle a hamstring problem and has not yet been given the all-clear, leaving England without a fully reliable option in that position. Just as that picture darkens, there is at least one shaft of light: Jarell Quansah is back.

The defender is available again after an ankle injury picked up in the group-stage victory over Panama ruled him out of the DR Congo tie. His return restores one more piece to Tuchel’s defensive puzzle and gives England an extra body at a time when options are thinning.

All of this could do more than just tweak the teamsheet. With his full-back choices compromised, Tuchel may be pushed towards a change of shape, potentially abandoning his preferred setup to better protect a makeshift back line in one of the most demanding arenas in world football.

England arrive at the Azteca with momentum, but their route into the quarter-finals may now depend as much on the medical room as on the tactics board.