Tino Livramento's World Cup Injury Dilemma

Tino Livramento’s World Cup dream is hanging by a thread.

The Newcastle United full-back has suffered a muscular injury in training with England, leaving Gareth Southgate and his staff facing an unwelcome selection dilemma just days before their opening game against Croatia on Wednesday night (21:00 BST).

Fresh setback for a luckless defender

Livramento, 23, is being assessed by England’s medical team after picking up the problem during Sunday’s session. The severity is not yet confirmed, but the timing could hardly be worse.

His place at the tournament was already under scrutiny. He missed the final five weeks of the club season with a thigh injury, only just returning in time to convince Southgate he was worth the gamble. Now that bet may be back on the table.

Under World Cup regulations, outfield players who suffer a serious injury or illness can be replaced in the squad up to 24 hours before a team’s first match. England are rapidly approaching that deadline.

Chalobah waits in the wings

If Livramento is ruled out, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is in line to benefit. The 26-year-old sits on England’s stand-by list and is viewed as a ready-made replacement, even if his natural position is at centre-back rather than full-back.

Chalobah has not played for England since June 2025, when he completed 90 minutes in a friendly against Senegal, but he has been a regular presence in squads. He was on the bench for several World Cup qualifiers under Thomas Tuchel and knows the demands of the setup.

Like Ezri Konsa, another versatile defender already in the squad, Chalobah is more comfortable in central areas. But Tuchel has leaned on flexibility before, and the prospect of reshaping the back line is very real if Livramento’s injury is serious.

Right-back roulette for Tuchel

The concern over Livramento only deepens the uncertainty around England’s right side of defence.

Reece James remains Tuchel’s first-choice right-back, yet his own fitness cannot be taken for granted after another stop-start season at Chelsea. The 26-year-old missed nine games at the end of the campaign with a hamstring problem, and every sprint in training will be watched closely.

Livramento had emerged as the energetic understudy. Since making his international debut under Southgate in November 2024, he has featured five times under Tuchel, starting twice. He came on at half-time in the 1-0 warm-up win over New Zealand, then watched the victory against Costa Rica from the bench. He was close enough to the action to feel part of the plan. Now that plan may need rewriting.

If James is not fully robust and Livramento is sidelined, Tuchel will have to lean heavily on depth and improvisation. Djed Spence, capable of operating on both flanks, offers pace and direct running and has already made six appearances under Tuchel. Konsa, with 11 caps and nine starts, provides reliability and composure, even if full-back is not his natural role.

A decision against the clock

For now, England wait. The medical team will give Livramento every chance, but the clock is ticking and the rules are unforgiving.

Southgate and Tuchel must decide whether to hold their nerve with an injured full-back or turn to Chalobah and reconfigure the defensive puzzle on the eve of a World Cup opener.

England’s campaign has not even kicked off, and already the right-back position is a fault line.