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Welbeck injury a concern for Lions

Manchester United striker looks set to miss opening game

by Our Sports Desk

Danny Welbeck missed England’s training session in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, heightening concerns over his fitness for the World Cup opener against Italy.

Reports emerged overnight that the Manchester United forward limped out of training on Tuesday with a leg injury.

All eyes were therefore searching for Welbeck in England’s part-open session at the Urca military base, yet there was no sign of him. 

The severity of the injury is not known with the Football Association refusing to comment, although the fact he was one of just two absentees yesterday set off alarm bells.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the other member of the 23-man squad not to head out, with the midfielder doing an individual programme as he continues his rehabilitation from a medial knee ligament complaint.

That injury meant the 20-year-old was never likely to be involved against Italy, with Hodgson confirming on Tuesday that the Arsenal midfielder could make his return against Uruguay next week, but the same cannot be said for Welbeck.

The forward looked likely to start on the left flank in Manaus on Saturday, with the setback potentially set to force manager Roy Hodgson into a rethink.

Raheem Sterling looks likely to be the beneficiary of Welbeck’s absence, having impressed during the pre-tournament camp despite only getting 39 minutes of action across the three warm-up friendlies.

Having not featured against Peru in their Wembley send-off, his red card against Ecuador after coming off the bench saw him banned against Honduras — a match Hodgson had planned to start him in.

Sterling had another chance to impress the Three Lions boss in training and may be used behind striker Daniel Sturridge with Wayne Rooney deployed out on the left.

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