Declan Rice pulls out of England duty as Arsenal injury fears eased despite hamstring concern
Declan Rice has been dealing with a hamstring issue since last season and has pulled out of England duty, returning to Arsenal(Image: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Declan Rice has become another player to pull out of England duty. It will no doubt come as something of a boost to Arsenal knowing the midfield talisman will not be risked across the four games set to be played. Thomas Tuchel’s side is set to face Spain, Croatia, and twice against the Czech Republic in the next two weeks.
football.london understands the player has pulled out purely because of concerns over load management and not anything serious injury-related.
Rice joins several others, including Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, in pulling out of the squad. Bukayo Saka, Ezri Konsa, Eberechi Eze and Myles Lewis-Skelly are all still with the Three Lions.
Rice had been dealing with a neural hamstring issue throughout the World Cup. Speaking after the win in Naples earlier this season, Rice believed that he could indeed play even more than the 69 games he managed for club and country in 20205/26.
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“I think for the last six seasons, even since my West Ham days when it was in Europe, I've played 60 plus every season,” he said. “So I think it is sustainable because I've shown that I can do it.
“It's just about maintaining it, maintaining the level and the consistency of the performances. For me, that's the main thing, showing up every week, giving a good account of myself and helping the team win. I've been lucky enough to be able to do that. So I'm really hungry to be able to do that again this season.”
Rice also spoke of the frustration he suffered during the World Cup where the hamstring issue and illness had affected his tournament.
“Yes, it was tough,” Rice said. “I think everyone knew I had an issue with a neural hamstring.
“But also on top of the Premier League season, which was so demanding, the Champions League, to then play a World Cup in that heat really does take its toll. I'm a player that goes on the pitch, wants to be fresh and give 100 per cent every time I put on an England shirt.
“And yes, there were stages where I felt really, really good and stages where I didn't feel I was good. And obviously, I had the illness going into the Norway game, which didn't really help.
“So there were a few things that frustrated me, just with myself, just not feeling 100 per cent. But there were games where I felt really good, like Congo. So it's one of those things I just had to manage. And like I said, in the summer, I just took a complete time off.”
It seems despite taking the necessary precautions, the decision to remove himself from the fold here is one that it was felt best benefited all parties.
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