Sources have told All Football League that James Maddison won’t be able to play in England’s first World Cup game against Iran.
In his last game before the winter break for the World Cup, the midfielder hurt his hamstring when Leicester beat West Ham.
Maddison and Leicester said the injury wasn’t too bad, but the 25-year-old hasn’t been able to train since getting to Qatar.
Maddison said there were no major worries about the injury when he got there. He said, “We’ve had the scan, it was a good scan, and there weren’t any major problems.
“I have to work a little bit to catch up with the physios, but you shouldn’t worry. I’m hoping I’ll be okay.”
England has until Sunday, which is 24 hours before their first game, to decide if they want to replace Maddison with someone else.
If Maddison had to drop out, Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, who both almost made Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad, would be the most likely replacements.
