DECLAN RICE MANAGED HAMSTRING NERVE PAIN FOR SIX MONTHS

Declan Rice has disclosed that he has managed nerve pain in his hamstring since Christmas whilst playing for Arsenal. The England midfielder was substituted in the 72nd minute of a 4-2 World Cup victory against Croatia last Wednesday after experiencing discomfort in his upper hamstring, with pain radiating into his lower back. Rice described the substitution as a sensible decision and stated he would be available for England's second group match against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday. He told ITV Sport that the pain was not widely known and had been handled behind the scenes throughout the season.

Rice has played 63 matches across the 2022-23 season, comprising 55 matches for Arsenal and eight for England. His club reached the finals of the Champions League and Carabao Cup, though lost both competitions against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City respectively. Arsenal won the Premier League title. Rice described the fixture schedule as "an obscene amount of games" but stated that players could not complain and had to manage the demands placed upon them.

England is currently in Florida for a hot-weather acclimatisation camp at the start of June ahead of World Cup matches in North America. The Croatia fixture was held in Dallas in a domed stadium with air-conditioned conditions set at 22 degrees Celsius. Rice acknowledged the heat and humidity in North America as among the major challenges facing the squad. He said he felt "really, really good" in the days following his substitution.