Captain Harry Kane is set to return for England as they look to achieve World Cup qualification against Latvia on Tuesday.
Kane was sidelined during the 3-0 friendly victory over Wales on Thursday because of an ankle injury he picked up while playing for Bayern Munich.
After returning to training over the weekend, he is now available as England seeks a win that would secure their spot at next summer’s World Cup in North America.
“It’s very simple with Harry; he’s fit and ready to play,” said coach Thomas Tuchel. “We took the right approach. He’s at the top in training and prepared for action.”
“I don’t see any reason he can’t go the full 90 minutes. The break was brief, and he played all the matches before with Bayern, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”
Kane’s return is crucial as Ollie Watkins has withdrawn from the match due to an injury sustained against Wales, where he had replaced Kane in the starting lineup.
Watkins was injured after colliding with a goalpost while attempting to score and was substituted at halftime for Marcus Rashford.
Although Watkins expressed he was “OK” as he limped through the mixed zone post-match, he has not recuperated in time for the game in Riga and has returned to Aston Villa for treatment, hoping to be fit for their Premier League match on Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur.
“Unfortunately, Ollie’s pain was quite significant, and he had to leave camp,” Tuchel stated.
“He couldn’t train with us, so he’s receiving treatment at his club and is aiming to be ready for the weekend. Everyone else is present for us.”
England can clinch their place in the upcoming tournament if they secure a win in Latvia, advancing with two games remaining in the qualifiers. They have won all five of their matches in Group K without conceding a single goal.
“I sense we’re developing something special and progressing in the right direction. Like in any sport, the next game is always the most challenging,” Tuchel remarked.
“We have to respect our opponent and the situation. It’s an away game in a World Cup qualifier, and considering the results from Albania and Serbia, we have the opportunity to qualify tomorrow, and we aim to do so with a victory and extra motivation.”
Tuchel confirmed he will field a strong team for Tuesday’s match, although he has yet to finalize the lineup.
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“I haven’t determined the exact team yet, but everyone deserves a chance, especially since we had ample time to recover after the Wales match,” the German coach noted.
“The team spirit and momentum are undoubtedly strong. The players are fully focused and train with enthusiasm and quality. It’s evident that everyone has made their mark.”
“I think we won’t make any significant mistakes in our selections, but we must consider how to manage minutes effectively, while the primary focus remains on assembling a strong and cohesive starting lineup.”