Declan Rice has opened up about managing a persistent hamstring problem since Christmas, revealing the injury has been kept largely behind the scenes throughout the season.
The Arsenal midfielder was substituted after 72 minutes during England’s opening World Cup group game against Croatia, sparking immediate questions about his fitness for the remainder of the tournament.
Rice admitted the appearance against Croatia was his 63rd match of the season, acknowledging the physical toll that an extraordinary schedule has taken on his body.
Despite those concerns, Rice was emphatic that he is ready to feature in England’s next group stage fixture against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, insisting he has no intention of stepping back.
Rice told ITV: “You get on with it. Obviously, it’s an obscene amount of games. The schedule is crazy but what can we do about it? You can’t sit and complain.”
He continued: “You know you’d play as many games as possible to have that feeling again. And knowing there’s a World Cup at the end of it as well. You know you’d put your body on the line to be here always and to play.”
Rice was candid about the neural discomfort he experienced late in the Croatia match, explaining the decision to withdraw him early was a calculated and sensible one given the circumstances.
He said: “I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. That last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most.”
Rice added that the rest since the Croatia game has left him feeling significantly better, describing himself as “ready, fit, raring to go” ahead of the Ghana encounter in Boston.
His Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka is also carefully managing his fitness due to a persistent Achilles issue, and Rice was full of confidence that Saka would make a major contribution to England’s campaign.
Rice said of Saka: “Hundred per cent. I think it’s really good the way we’re managing him. I think we’re managing him the right way for sure. I don’t think you wanna put him in straight away now and put him at risk.”
He also gave a glowing assessment of Noni, describing the winger as “unbelievable” in the opening matches of the tournament.
Away from the injury updates, Rice was equally enthusiastic discussing his midfield partnership with Elliot Anderson, declaring the Newcastle man the “perfect” partner in the centre of the park.
Rice told ITV: “Some player, really, really good from the moment he came into this England squad. Gone up levels, confidence levels on the ball. So energetic, can play all three roles in midfield.”
He described the duo’s partnership as a natural fit, saying: “I love playing with him; we’re similar profiles in a way, but we really bounce off each other. We speak about our connections, how we want to play off each other.”
Thomas Tuchel has reportedly settled on Rice and Anderson as his preferred central midfield pairing, a combination that has clearly developed a strong on-pitch understanding in a short space of time.
Rice reflected on what drives him through the relentless schedule, pointing to the Premier League title win with Arsenal as a reminder of why the sacrifices are always worthwhile.
He said: “I love being durable. I love having that rhythm of playing three games a week at club. I like to keep the momentum going, and I’ve always been like that throughout my career.”
With England’s World Cup ambitions firmly intact, Rice remains one of the most important figures in Tuchel’s plans, determined to deliver his very best football on the biggest stage of all.
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