Worries mount as Rashford misses first training session

Rashford sat out England’s first training session in Russia due to a knee complaint as Gareth Southgate faced the first notable injury doubt of the World Cup build-up.

Preparations for next Monday’s Group G opener against Tunisia could scarcely have gone any better up until now, with the initial 23-man selection remaining intact after beating Nigeria and Costa Rica.

Rashford shone in the latter friendly and scored a superb opener during a man-of-the-match display in last week’s Elland Road send-off, underlining his claims for a starting berth when the finals get under way.

But the 20-year-old’s hopes received a setback when he missed England’s first training session in Russia with a slight knee injury. The Football Association indicated Rashford’s absence was only a precautionary measure, but the forward was conspicuous by his absence in the first session at Spartak Zelenogorsk’s stadium.

England’s medical staff are treating a knee issue that Southgate called a “slight knock” upon touching down in Russia on Tuesday, with midfielder Jordan Henderson using a similarly relaxed tone the following day.

“He’s not too bad, I don’t think,” the Liverpool captain said. “It’s a knock in training. I think we’ve still got five days before the first game, so it’s just a little bit of a precaution for him to make sure he is OK.”

After training with the remaining 21 members of the squad yesterday, Henderson said he did not know how Rashford sustained the issue.

Eric Dier – facing a fight with Henderson to start against Tunisia – was among those involved in Zelenogorsk, but eyebrows were raised by the heavy strapping on his left thigh. “I am fine, thank you,” the Tottenham defensive midfielder said. “It is just a superstition more than anything now. It’s just because I’ve had a problem with my leg and it’s cleared up now. But I was wearing the strapping before and I just haven’t stopped wearing it yet. I will eventually!” Around 400 locals watched England’s first training session, with children given Three Lions goodie bags at the start of a session that ended with the players signing autographs.

England’s training ground is a 10-minute drive from their hotel in the resort of Repino, which is 29 miles north-west of St Petersburg.

The team checked-in at the forrestmix Club on Tuesday evening, meaning players have yet to do anything other than rest and train.