Declan Rice allays injury fears as England – England’s star midfielder, Declan Rice, has provided the most detailed insight yet into his fitness readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout stages, addressing concerns about a lingering neural pain issue that affected him during the Premier League season. The 27-year-old’s comments, shared ahead of England’s critical first-32 encounter with DR Congo in Atlanta, Georgia, suggest he is in good shape to contribute to the Three Lions’ campaign.

Rice revealed he has been contending with neural pain since December, requiring careful management throughout the second half of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign. Despite this, he remained a key player for Arsenal, helping the team secure the league title. The injury, which he described as “a bit unusual,” has not prevented him from participating in matches or training, though it did force him to sit out a recent friendly against Panama.…