Dele Alli absent from England training ahead of Panama clash as he faces uphill battle to be fit while manager Gareth Southgate loses the sling after dislocating his right shoulder

  • England took to the training pitches on Thursday morning at Spartak Stadium
  • Dele Alli has been struggling with a thigh injury and did not train with the squad 
  • The Tottenham midfielder is struggling to recover in time to face Panama 
  • Manager Gareth Southgate ditched his sling after dislocating his shoulder

Dele Alli missed England training this morning as he recovers from a thigh injury. 

The Tottenham midfielder is a huge doubt for Sunday’s clash against Panama after suffering a minor quadricep strain in the win over Tunisia. 

And, as expected, Alli sat out England’s Thursday morning training session.

Dele Alli did not join the rest of his England team-mates for training on Thursday morning

Dele Alli did not join the rest of his England team-mates for training on Thursday morning

Gareth Southgate emerged for the training session without his sling, but with his arm strapped

Gareth Southgate emerged for the training session without his sling, but with his arm strapped

The England boss appeared to feeling his right shoulder, which he dislocated the previous day

The England boss appeared to feeling his right shoulder, which he dislocated the previous day

Southgate shares a joke on the pitch as the England staff set up the session for the players 

Southgate shares a joke on the pitch as the England staff set up the session for the players 

The players emerged for training on Thursday morning following a day off on the Wednesday

The players emerged for training on Thursday morning following a day off on the Wednesday

Captain Harry Kane shares a joke with his manager as preparations for Panama get underway

Captain Harry Kane shares a joke with his manager as preparations for Panama get underway

The group of players mingle before kick off, with Alli nowhere to be seen amongst them

The group of players mingle before kick off, with Alli nowhere to be seen amongst them

A scan in St Petersburg on Tuesday showed the injury was a little more serious than first feared, with Alli taking to social media to confirm the news to fans. 


In a post on Instagram he said: 'Frustrating to have picked up a slight injury on Monday. Will do everything in my power to get back to full fitness asap! #threelions.'

The injury leaves a place in the side up for grabs, with both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Marcus Rashford in contention to replace the midfielder. 

Manager Gareth Southgate led training despite dislocating his right shoulder after losing his footing during a run in Repino on Wednesday. 

Southgate emerged without a sling at the Spartak Stadium in Zelenogorsk, but wore strapping to protect the injured joint. 

He is also taking pain killers, and appeared to be suffering from the injury, with the 47-year-old touching his right shoulder several times throughout the session. 

Ruben Loftus-Cheek appears to be in line to replace Dele Alli for England's match with Panama

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one player who could be in line to replace Alli in the starting line-up

Kane leads by example during the stretches at the Spartak Stadium in Zelenogorsk

Kane leads by example during the stretches at the Spartak Stadium in Zelenogorsk

Jordan Pickford looks set to keep his place between the sticks for the second group-stage tie

Jordan Pickford looks set to keep his place between the sticks for the second group-stage tie

Danny Rose could return to the starting line-up at left-back for the clash with Panama

Danny Rose could return to the starting line-up at left-back for the clash with Panama

It remains to be seen if he wears a sling for the game against Panama.

Speaking on Wednesday about the injury, Southgate joked: ‘I might not be celebrating any goals as athletically in future. The doc has made it clear that punching the air is not an option. We have got such a great support team and they were there very quickly.

‘They were supposed to be relaxing because we let the players have a bit of time off and I am causing them work. We are lucky we have a top-class medical team around us, so it was fine. I had brilliant help from them, and I am just sorry that I managed to ruin their day off.

‘It is better this is me than one of the players. They were a bit surprised in the team meeting and were asking “what have you been doing?” - as always, they were probably quite amused.

‘It is good that we have had a quiet day today so I had prepared the meeting before and we are on to preparations for Panama. I am just a bit gutted because I was on for my record 10k time!’

Jesse Lingard grins along with Fabian Delph during the training session on Thursday

Jesse Lingard grins along with Fabian Delph during the training session on Thursday

Kane leads the warm up while Delph has Raheem Sterling in stitches behind the captain

Kane leads the warm up while Delph has Raheem Sterling in stitches behind the captain

The players were in a good mood on the field having got their World Cup off to a great start

The players were in a good mood on the field having got their World Cup off to a great start