England handed major Rice boost ahead of Argentina World Cup clash

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Declan Rice expects to start against

Argentina

after his sickness scare.

Arsenal

midfielder

Rice

spent three days in bed last week with suspected food poisoning.

The

England

star only managed 45 minutes against

Norway

and remains a major fitness worry for Thomas Tuchel.

But it is understood

is on the mend, feels better and hopes to train fully to prove his fitness ahead of the semi final in Atlanta on Wednesday.

England boss

Tuchel

will give Rice extra time and opportunity to get himself ready for the game. Rice is a crucial player for England and had to be substituted at half time against Norway because of the illness.

England medics were initially concerned that it might spread to the rest of the group but it remained self contained. Rice has been a key player under Tuchel who has also made him his vice-captain and leans on him as an experienced and key player.

Rice has already overcome lower back problems which have affected his hamstrings and caused him issues in this tournament. But Rice has been a warrior for England and is clearly desperate to play in what would be one of the biggest games of his career.

Rice has formed a formidable partnership with Elliot Anderson and the Arsenal player was clearly below full fitness against Norway which massively impacted his performance.

But Rice expects to be back to his best for Wednesday and it will be a huge boost for Tuchel who said after the Norway game that he was below his best.

Tuchel said on Saturday: “Declan struggled after the last three days where he was most of the time in bed. I knew he could not survive 90 minutes and and there was a possibility that it goes 120, so I didn't want to waste another change so the decision was to take Declan earlier out than he needed to go out, just to save us another change later down the match.”