Ezri Konsa set for role change as England team leaks ahead of Norway quarter-final

Ezri Konsa appears set to move to right-back for England against Norway, talkSPORT understands.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has seemingly settled on the versatile star ahead of a fit-again Reece James and Djed Spence.

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Placing Konsa at right-back would see John Stones return at centre-back.

Stones started the first England match, a 4-2 win over Croatia, but since then played only one minute against DR Congo and 33 minutes against Mexico.

Konsa, meanwhile, has played every minute of the tournament so far at centre-back.

He did move to right-back against Mexico after Jarrell Quansah’s red card and played in the role in his first three games for the Three Lions in 2024.

The moves mean three of the starting backline are Man City stars as Tuchel looks to nullify the threat of Norway superstar Erling Haaland.

talkSPORT understands Noni Madueke will also return, coming in for Bukayo Saka who started against Mexico on the right wing.

Leaked England XI: Jordan Pickford; Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly; Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham; Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane.

England face Norway in Miami on Saturday night – live on talkSPORT – with a spot in the World Cup semi-finals up for grabs.

Thomas Tuchel’s side head into the match on the back of a huge morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium last weekend.

A Jude Bellingham double and a Harry Kane penalty was enough to see off the co-hosts in their own backyard.

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Meanwhile, Norway striker Erling Haaland netted his sixth and seventh goals of the World Cup to see off Brazil 2-1.

England have won just two of their last seven meetings against Norway stretching back 45 years.

Reacting to the news, former Three Lions star Darren Bent said: Yeah, it makes sense to me with Konsa and the Reece James situation.

“Konsa, I know I prefer him at centre-back. I think he’s been top this season. But it just makes a little bit more sense.

“I think you then get the relationship [at centre-back] with Stones and Guehi.”

Ahead of the game, England were handed a triple boost with Marc Guehi, Declan Rice and James all featuring in full training on Friday.

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Guehi and Rice had been absent on Thursday, due to a hamstring issue and illness respectively, while James returned but did not complete the entire session.

The Chelsea star has missed the last three matches through injury, but completed a full training session on the eve of the Norway clash, alongside Guehi and Rice.

England have everyone available off the bench, apart from Jordan Henderson, after his cruel luck following the win over Mexico, and Jarell Quansah (suspended).

Saturday’s clash will be the biggest meeting between the two teams with the winners facing off against Argentina or Switzerland in next Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta.