England have received a timely fitness boost ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Norway, with Reece James returning to full training after recovering from a hamstring injury. The Chelsea defender has missed the Three Lions' last three matches, but manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that James is back in contention for the crucial knockout clash.
Thomas Tuchel confirms Reece James is available for Norway clash
England boss Thomas Tuchel revealed that Reece James has successfully returned to team training and will be available for selection against Norway on Saturday.
The right-back had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, forcing him to miss England's previous three World Cup matches. However, his return provides a major boost for the Three Lions as they prepare for a place in the semi-finals.
Marc Guehi has also recovered from the fitness concerns that emerged following England's dramatic Round of 16 victory over Mexico, giving Tuchel nearly a full-strength squad.
“It’s the best news. We had everyone available in training which we of course like. We have the full choice except for our suspended player, so that’s the good news.”
England will still be without midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with an arm injury, while defender Jarell Quansah serves a suspension after his red card against Mexico.
England aiming to build on Mexico victory
England head into the quarter-final full of confidence after their thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico in the Round of 16, a match in which they battled through difficult circumstances to secure qualification.
Despite the confidence boost, Tuchel insisted his players are fully focused on the task ahead and believe there is still room for improvement.
“I think we took a big step in our last match, but it was only a step. We’re still hungry, we still have dreams and we still have a big goal to play for. The next step is to win the quarter-final.”
The England manager also stressed that the team has moved on from its previous success and is concentrating solely on overcoming Norway to keep its FIFA World Cup 2026 title hopes alive.