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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to be out of World Cup games for 10 to 21 days Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hopeful of World Cup spot despite two-weeks out
(about 1 hour later)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s World Cup participation is in doubt after a scan showed the knee injury he suffered in England’s 2-2 draw against Ecuador will keep him out for between 10 and 21 days. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is optimistic he will be able to accompany England to the World Cup finals after scans on the Arsenal midfielder’s right knee suggested he has not torn the ligaments and will ruled out for only two weeks.
England have yet to decide whether to replace him - if he was to miss the minimum of 10 days then he would be out for just the Italy game and they might consider persevering with him. The winger was injured in a second half clash with Ecuador’s Carlos Gruezo during the teams’ 2-2 draw at Sun Life stadium on Wednesday. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was making his first appearance since 20 April after his involvement in the run-in to the domestic campaign was hampered by a groin complaint, had been one of England’s best performers but departed the stadium in clear discomfort and underwent a scan on Thursday morning.
John Stones, the Everton centre-half, who is with the squad in Miami but not a member of the World Cup squad, could be retained with the travelling party to Brazil while Oxlade-Chamberlain is assessed and could be called up should the Arsenal midfielder be out for longer. That would free up James Milner, who played right-back in the draw against Ecuador, to play in midfield. It is understood the results suggested he had strained the medial ligaments in the joint, rather than torn them which would have constituted a far more serious problem, meaning the Arsenal midfielder still has a realistic chance to featuring in the tournament proper. The 20-year-old watched training at the Barry University campus on Wednesday with his knee in a brace and hopes to stay with the squad. There is no indication as yet that he is to be sent home to continue his treatment back at Arsenal.
Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley are on the stand-by list while Nathan Redmond, who has been in good form for the under-21s, may also come into consideration as a more like-for-like player should it be neccesary to replace Oxlade-Chamberlain. Yet Hodgson may prefer to keep Stones on board considering his involvement with the squad during England’s training camp. Roy Hodgson will take his time before making a decision over his participation. The England manager can take the injured player to Brazil and call up a replacement at any point until 24 hours before England’s opening Group E game against Italy in Manaus on 14 June if his rehabilitation is slower than anticipated. The national squad still includes John Stones and Jon Flanagan, neither of whom were named in the World Cup 23, with both having undertaken the FA’s gruelling specialist training schedule in Portugal and Miami to ensure they would be acclimatised and ready to step up if required.
The Arsenal player limped off the field in the 63rd minute of the friendly in Miami after being kicked by Ecuador’s Carlos Gruezo. Both have featured in the friendlies, with Stones having played as a substitute against both Peru and Ecuador and Flanagan a late replacement on Wednesday. They were due to return home on Sunday when the 23-man party departs for Brazil, though it remains to be seen whether Hodgson asks one or both to remain with his travelling squad and journey instead to Rio de Janeiro. Certainly Stones could operate across the back-line and might free James Milner to concentrate solely on midfield duties having stepped in as a back-up right-back on Wednesday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was playing his first match since 20 April following a groin injury, was still hobbling as he left the stadium on Wednesday as a result of the blow to his right leg. The other midfielders on Hodgson’s original 30-man squad list were Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, though neither has undertaken the training regime. They would not constitute a like-for-like replacement for Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the England manager may potentially consider the likes of Norwich’s Nathan Redmond, so impressive for the under-20s at the recent Toulon tournament but uncapped at senior level.
The England manager Roy Hodgson appeared prepared for the worst when he said: “We have our fears there might be some ligament damage. His knee buckled under the challenge as the player turned into him.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s loss will be a damaging blow for Hodgson. The midfielder, who scored for England in their friendly draw in Brazil’s Maracanã stadium almost exactly a year ago to the day, put in a series of surging runs against Ecuador and he also set Rooney up for the equaliser following Enner Valencia’s opener.
Jack Wilshere and Luke Shaw also had to be substituted in the Ecuador match, but Hodgson insists they will be fine for the tournament in Brazil. “Jack Wilshere suffered from cramp, Luke Shaw too. We took them off for those reasons alone,” Hodgson said.
Both teams ended the match with 10 men after England’s Raheem Sterling and Ecuador’s Antonio Valencia were sent off with 11 minutes left. Sterling took Valencia out with a late challenge and the Manchester United midfielder responded by grabbing the Liverpool youngster by the neck.