England team news for Panama game as Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka expected to start

Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are expected to start for England in their final World Cup group stage game against Panama.

Ahead of Saturday's game at MetLife Stadium in New York, Thomas Tuchel has been faced with some selection dilemmas.

Reece James, who enjoyed a relatively undisrupted campaign with Chelsea coming into the World Cup, has been ruled out of the Group L clash after suffering a minor hamstring injury in the 0-0 draw with Ghana.

Speaking about James' injury, Tuchel said: "He was not able to train in the last two days. He is now in an accelerated rehabilitation programme and we take it game by game."

Tuchel claimed there is "some belief" that James will be available beyond the game with Panama, but for now, the German will have to improvise.

A report from BBC Sport claims Jarell Quansah will replace James at right-back, while Nico O’Reilly, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi are expected to make up the back four.

Reece James and Declan Rice will be rested against Panama, according to reports. Image credit: Getty

Jordan Pickford, meanwhile, will start for the Three Lions, with Tuchel expected to stick with his 4-2-3-1 formation.

Ahead of this weekend's game, England's coaching staff have also been assessing the fitness of Declan Rice, who has been "feeling a little bit of neural pain" in his hamstring since Christmas.

Rice is expected to be rested against Panama, according to the leaked team news, with Morgan Rogers being handed his first World Cup start alongside Elliot Anderson.

It is said Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford will operate in forward areas alongside Harry Kane.

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England's opponents are expected to use a 5-4-1 formation. Orlando Mosquera will be in goal, while Amir Murillo, Jiovany Ramos, Jose Cordoba, Cesar Blackman and Andres Andrade are expected to play at the back.

In midfield, Cristian Martinez, Carlos Harvey, Yoel Barcenas and Jose Luis Rodriguez will try to neutralise England's attacking threat, while Jose Fajardo will be Panama's target man up top.

Expected team news for World Cup clash between England and Panama

England: (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Bellingham, Rogers; Saka, Kane, Rashford.

Panama: (5-4-1): Mosquera; Murillo, Cordoba, Ramos, Andrade, Blackman; Martinez, Barcenas, Harvey, Rodriguez; Fajardo.