Declan Rice has revealed he has been battling nerve pain in his hamstring since Christmas, shedding light on the physical toll of a demanding season that has seen him play 63 matches for club and country.
The England midfielder eased fears over his fitness ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup clash against Ghana after being substituted during the Three Lions’ 4-2 victory over Croatia. Rice explained that the decision to take him off was precautionary and part of a long-term plan to manage an issue that has affected him throughout much of the campaign.
The Arsenal star said the pain originates in his upper hamstring and radiates into his lower back, but stressed that he is fully fit and ready for England’s second Group Stage fixture.
“I’m ready and fit, raring to go,” Rice told ITV Sport. “I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Not a lot of people would have known that because it was all behind-the-scenes stuff.”
Rice admitted the decision to withdraw him against Croatia proved beneficial, allowing him to recover fully before the next match.
The midfielder has enjoyed one of the busiest seasons of his career. He featured 55 times for Arsenal and has already made eight appearances for England, helping the Gunners secure the Premier League title while also reaching the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals.
Reflecting on the schedule, Rice described the workload as extraordinary but insisted the rewards make the sacrifices worthwhile.
“It’s an obscene amount of games,” he said. “The schedule was crazy, but these are the moments you play football for. Winning the Premier League and competing at a World Cup are opportunities you don’t take for granted.”
England have spent several weeks preparing for the challenging weather conditions expected during the tournament in North America. Rice revealed manager Thomas Tuchel has reassured the squad that their conditioning work will help them cope with the heat and humidity.
The 26-year-old also provided an update on Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka, who is continuing to manage an Achilles problem. Saka made a positive impact off the bench against Croatia but is unlikely to start against Ghana.
Rice believes the cautious approach will benefit England in the long run.
“Bukayo will impact this tournament,” he said. “We’re managing him the right way and making sure he’s ready for the important moments ahead.”
With England targeting another victory to strengthen their position in Group D, Rice’s fitness boost comes as welcome news for Tuchel’s side ahead of a crucial encounter with Ghana.
