adminMIAMI. — England winger Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain will be fit to take part in the World Cup soccer finals after making good progress with his knee injury, manager Roy Hodgson said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Honduras.Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the injury in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Ecuador and Hodgson had said he may have to wait until 24 hours before England’s Group D opener against Italy on June 14 before deciding whether the Arsenal wide-man could be part of his squad. But on Saturday Hodgson took a much more positive tone.
“Everyone is fit. Oxlade-Chamberlain is making good progress. I think he’ll make the tournament without a shadow of a doubt,” Hodgson said.
England were relieved to get through a tough encounter with Honduras without picking up any further injuries.
Captain Steven Gerrard was replaced at half-time but said that had been planned before the game due to a slight concern over his groin after Wednesday’s game.
“I had a tight groin in midweek so it was always the plan for me to play just 45 minutes. We’re quite frustrated in the dressing room. We thought the referee was poor, they were doing some stupid fouls. Maybe we could have moved the ball a bit quicker, but there were some horrific challenges. I certainly got caught by one,” he said.
A 43-minute stoppage midway through the first-half, due to concerns of an electric storm warning, knocked both sides out of their rhythm and the second half was also a largely scrappy affair. — AFP.
Wenslus Murape
Online Reporter