Mount is testing negative – Rice

ENGLAND midfielder Declan Rice revealed teammate Mason Mount has tested negative in his latest coronavirus check as his selfisolation nears an end.

The Chelsea star, along with Ben Chilwell, was forced to quarantine for ten days after coming into close contact with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour, their Chelsea clubmate, who tested positive for the virus after the 0-0 draw at Wembley.

Rice joked that he had missed his best friend around the camp, but said Mount remained upbeat.

He said: “I’ve been a lost soul. A few of the lads have come up to me and said I look lost and we’ve had a bit of banter.

“He’s been all right, hopefully he is out in the next couple of days. I spoke to him yesterday and he tested negative again, so I am hoping he can be back with the group soon. We have had little chats on FaceTime and things, he has been positive and been keeping himself fit in the room.

“Hopefully we can have him out soon with a negative test and that will be a massive boost.”

Mount and Chilwell, who has yet to feature in the tournament, were the only players who missed training yesterday, but the former can come out of isolation in time to be involved in Tuesday’s last-16 tie with Germany remains to be seen. England’s reward for winning Group D is a clash with Joachim Low’s side at Wembley, but, should they come through that, they appear to have, on paper at least, a favourable-looking route to the final thereafter.

Rice added: “No game is easy now. In the end, you are going to face one of the big teams.”