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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Alex Richards

James Maddison leaves World Cup training session early as England take doctor's advice

James Maddison was the only member of the 26-man England squad to miss training on Thursday in Qatar.

The Leicester City playmaker was pulled out of the full session as Three Lions chiefs continue to manage his workload, after he suffered a knee injury in the Foxes win over West Ham last weekend. Maddison had taken part in the first session on Wednesday.

Speaking after that session, the 25-year-old said: “We had a scan the day before we met up. It was a positive scan. I had a little problem in the week building up to the West Ham game and post-Everton game which was the week before for us. I wanted to play, I didn’t want to not give it a go because of the World Cup. That’s not the person I am.”

Mirror Football understands that England trained at an earlier time on Thursday due to doctors' advice.

Doctors say that with only five days to acclimatise to the heat, they are using the intensity of the midday sun to speed up the process.

Kyle Walker, who has already ruled himself out of Monday's opener against Iran, did take part, with Southgate's assistant, Steve Holland, keeping a close eye on the Manchester City full-back.

Ben Rosenblatt, the team's physical performance coach, led the early drills in the blazing 33 degrees heat.

Meanwhile, former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has told Southgate that Harry Kane will be crucial to the Three Lions’ chances of success in Qatar.

Eriksson says skipper and Three Lions stalwart Kane is the one player England need to be on top of his game if they are to lift the trophy next month.

“It’s Harry Kane, for sure,” Eriksson told the Press Association. “He is the one who will score the goals and if he is in good shape England can do it.

“They are all important players but he is the most important. If he is fit and at his best I think England can do it.

“The only problem Southgate has is to pick the XI. He has a lot of options. Good options.”

James Maddison leaves England training on Thursday (AFP via Getty Images)

Eriksson, who guided England to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2002 and 2006, as well as at Euro 2004, believes Southgate’s side are among the favourites along with Brazil, Argentina, France and Germany.

“I think this is one of those World Cups where you can’t say whose going to win it. If you asked 100 experts they will come up with different answers,” he added.

“I think there are five favourites, and England are one of them. If they have a little bit of luck, no bad injuries to important players, then everything is possible.”

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