England return to training after Ben White flew home

Full-strength England are all smiles in training as they prepare for last-16 World Cup clash against Senegal – with Gareth Southgate debating whether to change the team that eased past Wales

  • Gareth Southgate and his England squad returned to training on Thursday
  • They were pictured preparing for their last-16 clash with Senegal on Sunday
  • Declan Rice described today’s training session as a ‘second recovery session’
  • The England star admitted England’s group games had been ‘tough on the legs’
  • The entire England squad – apart from Ben White – attended the training session 
  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

Gareth Southgate and his England squad have been pictured back in training ahead of their last-16 clash with Senegal. 

Declan Rice revealed today’s training session would be a ‘second recovery session’ as their games against Iran, the USA and Wales have been ‘tough on the legs’. 

He said: ‘You know what it’s been a little tough on the legs. Three games in the middle of the season. So to have that extra day is really nice.

England have been pictured back in training ahead of their last-16 clash with Senegal

The Three Lions manager appeared to be in good spirits following their win over Wales

Declan Rice (above) revealed today’s training session would be a ‘second recovery session’

‘I know if we came second we would have been playing on the Saturday so to get that extra day is great and we will look to maximise that.

‘Today will be a second day recovery type of session. So yeah it’s really good to get a second day of recovery. We will be feeling fresh [for Senegal].’

England arrived at training without Ben White – who has flown home from England’s World Cup campaign over a personal matter. 

The players were seen joking and laughing with the manager before getting underway

Southgate was all smiles despite the selection headache he will face heading into the last-16

The FA confirmed on Wednesday night that the defender, who did not feature for Southgate’s side while in Qatar, had left the team’s training camp in Al Wakrah. 

The statement – which was published on their official website – said it would be unlikely that Ben White would return to Qatar. 

‘Ben White has left England’s training base in Al Wakrah and returned home for personal reasons,’ read the statement. 

‘The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament. We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time.’

The rest of Southgate’s England squad attended Thursday’s team training session. The Three Lions appeared to be in good spirits following their win over Wales. 

Harry Kane dismissed any injury concerns by running around freely with his team-mates

 Marcus Rashford (middle) and Jude Bellingham (left) looked sharp on the ball at training 

Phil Foden looked full of confidence after finding the back of the net against Wales 

All 25 England players were fit and available for training on Thursday afternoon (above)

They were seen laughing and joking with their manager before taking part in a series of running drills to warm-up for their training session. 

Harry Kane dismissed any injury concerns by running around freely with his team-mates before taking part in a series of exercises. 

Raheem Sterling looked sharp as he darted in and out of the cones, while Jude Bellingham looked light on his feet as he competed several footwork drills. 




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