England go into the Mexico game with a familiar problem on the right side of defence. Reece James missed the final training session before the match, leaving Thomas Tuchel with a fresh decision to make before Monday's 01:00 BST kickoff. There was at least one better piece of injury news, with Jarell Quansah back in full training and fit to face Mexico.
James has already missed England's last two matches after suffering a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the goalless draw with Ghana. That background is why his absence from the final session feels significant. Tuchel has not declared him out, but the balance of the update points to England preparing for the possibility that they will need another workaround at right-back.
The right-back problem has not gone away
This is not a new issue for England and that is why the latest setback matters even without a definitive ruling on James. Tuchel said the injury caught his staff off guard, telling football.london: "No-one could see that coming."
He also tried to lower the temperature around the selection problem. "Reece was in good shape and felt very good, so it's a bit unlucky but Ezri Konsa played in the position for us on a high level. We have still no problem," Tuchel said.
That is the public line, and there is some evidence behind it. England have managed to get through matches despite the disruption, with makeshift cover doing a decent job rather than collapsing the structure. Ezri Konsa has a 6.8 tournament rating, and that supports Tuchel's point that the stand-in options have been competent.
Still, competent is not the same as settled. England used Djed Spence at right-back in the win over DR Congo, and Declan Rice ended that match in the same role. Rice has already appeared in 3 matches at this World Cup, which underlines how often Tuchel has had to shuffle his resources instead of letting the back line bed in. Spence's 6.66 rating suggests he has been serviceable, but England are clearly adjusting around the position rather than solving it.
James being unavailable again would sharpen that problem. A fit James gives England a specialist there and removes the need for another chain reaction elsewhere in the side. That is why his missed session stands out even with Tuchel insisting there is no crisis.
There is also the broader fitness concern around James himself. The Chelsea defender was in good shape before the hamstring issue, according to Tuchel, but England have now had to manage his absence across multiple matches. It would be a stretch to treat him as anything other than doubtful for Mexico.
Quansah's return gives England a cleaner defensive option
Quansah's return is the part of this update that genuinely helps England. He is back in full training and available for Monday's game, which gives Tuchel one more natural defender after a period when injuries were forcing him into patchwork solutions.
That does not mean Quansah walks straight into the starting side. It does mean England can approach the Mexico game with a bit less strain on the rest of the defence. When a squad starts moving midfielders or auxiliary defenders into full-back roles, simply getting a recognised defender back changes the selection picture.
Quansah had his own setback after suffering a hamstring injury in the draw with Panama, so his availability is timely. He has only 1 World Cup appearance in 2026, which is a useful reminder that this is more about restoring options than welcoming back a player who has been carrying the defence through the tournament.
That said, availability matters at this stage. England do not need Quansah to arrive with a huge tournament footprint for his return to be important. They need bodies, flexibility and fewer emergency changes. In that sense, his comeback softens the blow of James' absence even if it does not remove the right-back question completely.
Tuchel has options, but not his preferred one
The contested part of this story is straightforward enough. Tuchel is right that England are not out of solutions. Konsa has held up, Spence has filled in, and Rice has even been used to close out a match there. England can still put together a functional back line against Mexico.
But the stronger reading is that this remains a problem rather than a minor inconvenience. James missed the final training session, he has already been absent for the last two matches, and the alternatives have been improvised options rather than a settled plan. England may cope again, but Tuchel is plainly managing around a position he would rather not be managing at all.
The good news is that Quansah is back and fit to face Mexico on Monday at 01:00 BST.
FAQ
Will Reece James play for England against Mexico?
He should be treated as doubtful rather than ruled out. James missed England's final training session before the Mexico game and has already sat out the last two matches after a hamstring injury against Ghana. Thomas Tuchel has tried to calm the situation, but the latest update points to England preparing alternative right-back cover.
Why is Reece James missing England training before Mexico?
James has been managing the hamstring injury he suffered in the closing stages of England's goalless draw with Ghana. He has missed the last two matches since then and was absent again from the final training session before Mexico, which is why his availability remains in doubt.
How are England coping at right-back without Reece James?
England have already had to improvise. Djed Spence started at right-back against DR Congo, while Declan Rice finished that match in the position. Tuchel also pointed to Ezri Konsa's level there, and Konsa's 6.8 tournament rating backs up the idea that England have managed the role competently even without a natural first-choice option.
Is Jarell Quansah fit for England's game against Mexico?
Yes, Quansah returned to full training and is fit to face Mexico on Monday at 01:00 BST. His return does not guarantee a start, but it gives England a natural defensive option back after recent injuries forced them into emergency reshuffles.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →