England's Dele Alli working towards full fitness for Panama game

Share this with Email Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Whatsapp

Dele Alli will do "everything in my power" to reach full fitness in time for England's game with Panama on Sunday.

Advertisement

The Tottenham playmaker suffered a minor thigh strain during the 2-1 victory over Tunisia and underwent a scan on Tuesday afternoon, which confirmed the injury.

On Wednesday night Alli tweeted: "Frustrating to have picked up a slight injury on Monday."

"Will do everything in my power to get back to full fitness asap! #ThreeLions"

Alli looked set to come off during the first half of Tunisia game, with Fabian Delph stripped and seemingly ready to come on, but the 22-year-old lasted until the 80th minute when he was replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Advertisement

England manager Southgate had kept tabs on Alli's fitness throughout their World Cup opener after the first-half setback.

"We had to keep monitoring Dele," Southgate said on Monday.

"He was feeling a little bit of an issue just before half-time, but he felt he could carry on and I thought the runs that he was making and the way he was pressing the ball was still causing a problem."

England have made a winning start to a major tournament for the first time since 2006 and victory over Panama could be enough to book their place in the knockout stages.

Source: Skysports