Ezri Konsa is in line to return for England when Thomas Tuchel’s side face Croatia on Saturday, with the defender delivering a major fitness boost ahead of the Nations League clash.
The Arsenal defender missed England’s previous victory over Croatia because of injury, but he has now returned to full training and appears ready to make himself available for Tuchel.
The England manager confirmed Konsa completed the entire training session, raising hopes that the experienced defender can return to the squad for the crucial fixture.
“It seems that Ezri Konsa is back. He did the full training today. This gives us a lot of hope because he is a key player,” Tuchel said.
Konsa’s return could give England another defensive option as Tuchel weighs up his starting XI for the meeting with Croatia.
The England boss also provided an update on the competition for places, particularly on the left side of the defence.
“There is a lot of competition on the left. Marc should be ready to go and will be likely to start.”
Tuchel later repeated his positive assessment of Konsa’s recovery while confirming the importance of having the defender available.
“It seems that Ezri Konsa is back. He did the full training session today and this gives us of course a lot of hope for tomorrow because he’s a key player for us.
“Nico O’Reilly left the camp and on the right side we have the competition.
The latest update means Konsa has successfully cleared an important hurdle after his injury ruled him out of England’s previous meeting with Croatia.
His return also comes at a time when England’s defensive options are being tested, with Nico O’Reilly having left the camp and competition continuing for positions across the back line.
Meanwhile, Tuchel has indicated that Marc Guehi is likely to retain his place in the starting XI.
Guehi’s expected inclusion adds another layer to the defensive selection debate, particularly with Konsa now back in contention and ready to push for a starting role.
England will head into Saturday’s contest looking to build on their previous result against Croatia, with Tuchel expected to make final decisions on his lineup after assessing the squad’s fitness.
For Konsa, completing a full training session represents a timely boost. After missing the previous game, he now has an opportunity to force his way back into Tuchel’s plans at a crucial point in England’s campaign.
With the manager stressing Konsa’s importance and confirming his return to full training, the defender’s availability gives England another option as they prepare for Saturday’s test against Croatia.
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