Thomas Tuchel told to unleash ‘strongest England XI’ by Stuart Pearce amid injury concerns for three stars

Stuart Pearce wants to see Reece James recalled to England’s starting XI for their World Cup showdown with Norway.

Following their heroic victory over Mexico, England’s next obstacle in their bid for World Cup glory comes in the form of the Brazil-conquering Norwegians on Saturday.

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The quarter-final tie will be played in the soaring Miami sunshine, live on talkSPORT, and former England left-back Pearce wants the Three Lions to bring the heat on their quarter-final opponents.

Pearce’s England XI

According to Pearce, it’s an opportunity for manager Thomas Tuchel to finally play his strongest possible XI again with just one change made from the 3-2 win in Mexico City on Monday.

It is technically an enforced one as England must find a replacement at right-back as the man who played there last time out, Jarell Quansah, is suspended on account of the red card he picked up at the Azteca.

But Pearce was insistent that James should only play if he’s definitely fit enough to start.

If the Chelsea captain doesn’t pass the fitness test, then Pearce wants Ezri Konsa to be shunted out at right-back, while John Stones comes in to partner Marc Guehi at centre-back.

Going through the rest of the team, Jordan Pickford of course starts in goal after starring against Mexico in what Pearce described as the Everton goalkeeper’s ‘best game in an England shirt’.

Joining a hopefully fit right-back James in defence are Konsa and Guehi in the middle, while Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly is out on the left.

The midfield three picks itself with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice playing slightly behind two-goal hero in Mexico Jude Bellingham.

As for the front line, Pearce wants to go for an unchanged trio of Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon.

After naming his starting line-up, Pearce said: “I would say at this stage very few people would make change for change sake.

“I think we’ve arrived on a fairly consistent group and I think if Reece fit this is his [Tuchel’s] strongest line-up.”

Injury concerns

A very measured team selection process from gaffer Pearce, however, he could be forced to revise some of his choices if some injury concerns in the England camp grow into something worse.

Rice, James and Guehi all sat out training at England’s base in Kansas City on Wednesday to follow their own programmes.

Arsenal star Rice has been playing through the pain all tournament having even asked Tuchel to be substituted during the round of 32 win over DR Congo.

He missed England’s final group game, a 2-0 win over Panama, with a calf injury having limped off in the opening match which saw the Three Lions register a 4-2 victory over Croatia.

Rice revealed in June that he’s been playing with nerve pain since December, but he managed to play the full match against Mexico.

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James has not featured since the second group match, a goalless draw against Ghana on June 23, with his absence part of a wider concern for England.

Tuchel hasn’t enjoyed a lot of luck with regards to right-back having lost Tino Livramento to injury on the eve of England’s first game.

Djed Spence has deputised for James but has struggled for form, and has been on the receiving end of one or two rollickings from Tuchel this tournament, as well as his fitness in North America.

Guehi’s complaint is a new one and it appears him sitting out of training on Wednesday was a precautionary measure.

England vs Norway: What has been said?

Fans may be looking ahead to the semi-finals and final having been handed an in theory easier route on account of Norway’s shock 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16.

However, Dan Burn insists there’s no danger of Erling Haaland and co being underestimated by England.

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“It does not surprise us at all how well they’ve done, to be honest,” Burn told talkSPORT.

“I saw how well they did in qualification. They had a tough group with Italy in it and topped that and scored however many goals. So it doesn’t surprise us that they’re doing well.

“Even beating Brazil. I know Brazil were favourites for that but when you’ve got players like Haaland and Martin Odegaard and people that can affect the game, it doesn’t surprise us that they’re at this stage.

“It is one of them where we’re going to have to be top level all over the pitch and put in probably a lot better performance than we did against Mexico to get through.

“But it is something that we are prepared for. It was like the manager had a meeting this morning and said Mexico is done now. We have sat and taken the praise and everything for it, but it means nothing really if we don’t beat Norway.

“So now it’s focusing on that. It’ll be different conditions. Not the altitude, but we’ll have the heat.

“And you know with Erling Haaland, he only needs one touch in the box to score. So everyone’s going to have to be on it.”