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World Cup 2018: Man Utd striker Marcus Rashford issues positive England injury update
MARCUS RASHFORD has hinted that he will be fit for England’s World Cup opener against Tunisia on Monday night despite sustaining a recent knee injury.
Man Utd's Marcus Rashford scores hat-trick in England training
The Manchester United striker suffered a knock in the Three Lions’ final training on home soil earlier this week and missed out on an open session with his team-mates yesterday in Russia after medical assessments.
But despite sitting out in Zelenogorsk, near to England’s Repino headquarters for the tournament this summer, the 20-year-old has issued a positive update via social media.
On his official Twitter account, the youngster declared: “Thanks for the messages I've been getting. Picked up a slight niggle but nothing to worry about."
The previous day, England boss Gareth Southgate acknowledged a “slight knock” but insisted it was “nothing too serious”, the player’s training absence thought to be merely a precautionary decision.
Picked up a slight niggle but nothing to worry about.
Rashford’s fitness means Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling could be picked to start in England’s attack in their opening game.
Whoever is picked will start alongside captain and Tottenham front-man Harry Kane, with Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard among the other final-third options who are vying for starting spots.
Rashford delivered a man-of-the-match display in England’s final pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica at Elland Road last week, scoring a stunning opening goal from range for just his third international strike after 19 caps.
And he will hope when back to 100 per-cent fitness to stake his claim for a starting role having scored 13 goals and laid on nine assists for United across all competitions last season despite making only 26 starts.
All of England’s other 22 players took part in the team's first session although Eric Dier wore heavy strapping on his left groin despite having overcome a long-standing niggle.
England open their Group G campaign in Volgograd against Tunisia on Monday night (7pm) and take on Panama and Belgium in their other clashes as they look to make the knockout rounds - as they failed to do in Brazil four years ago.