Frank Christian
Declan Rice, a prominent player for Arsenal, has been called up to represent England in two UEFA Nations League matches this month, despite dealing with an injury.
Lee Carsley, serving as the interim coach, will lead the team in matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland before Thomas Tuchel takes over coaching duties in 2025.
Although Carsley has made some adjustments to his squad, Rice along with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka remain in the 26-man lineup.
Mikel Arteta, however, may not be pleased with Rice’s inclusion, as the 25-year-old is currently recovering from a broken toe.
Arteta confirmed that Rice is unable to wear his boots due to the injury, which led to his late exclusion from the squad for the UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan, which ended in a 1-0 loss.
While Rice is expected to return to training soon, Arteta will assess his condition closely before the key Premier League match against Chelsea on November 10.
Rice’s inclusion in the England squad might create further tensions, especially after Saka had to cut his international duties short last month due to injury.
Saka missed a couple of matches in early October, while club captain Martin Odegaard is sidelined for 12 weeks due to an ankle injury he sustained while playing for Norway in September.
If Rice is fit to play against Chelsea, there’s no guarantee he will join the national team, as Arteta is keen on managing his injury carefully, which could result in Rice being withdrawn regardless of his condition.
