Tino Livramento's World Cup Dream at Risk Due to Injury
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 headache just days before the tournament begins.
The 23-year-old picked up the problem during Sunday’s session and is now being assessed by England’s medical team. The timing could hardly be worse. England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday night at 21:00 BST, and FIFA rules allow outfield players to be replaced in the squad only up to 24 hours before that first game kicks off.
A fragile build-up turns worse
Livramento was already walking a tightrope coming into the tournament. He missed the final five weeks of the club season with a thigh injury, and his late push for fitness had been closely monitored by England.
He forced his way into the picture under Gareth Southgate with an international debut in November 2024 and has since featured five times during Thomas Tuchel’s tenure, starting twice. His energy and aggression down the right had made him a serious contender to support – and, if required, cover – England’s established first choice.
He came on at half-time in England’s 1-0 warm-up win over New Zealand, a useful run-out that suggested he was edging back towards full sharpness. He then stayed on the bench against Costa Rica, a decision that now looks more like caution than rotation.
Now, with another muscular issue, his place at the World Cup is in real jeopardy.
Right-back roulette for Tuchel
Reece James remains Tuchel’s preferred option at right-back, but his own fitness record offers little comfort. The 26-year-old missed nine matches for Chelsea at the end of the season with a hamstring injury and has endured another campaign punctured by setbacks.
England’s depth at full-back is usually a strength. At this moment, it feels like a risk.
Djed Spence, who can operate on both flanks, is already in the squad and has featured six times under Tuchel. His versatility suddenly looks invaluable. Ezri Konsa, predominantly a centre-back but capable of filling in on the right, has 11 appearances under Tuchel, including nine starts, and offers a more conservative, defensively minded option.
Tuchel may need every bit of that flexibility if Livramento fails to recover in time.
Chalobah waits in the wings
If the Newcastle defender is ruled out, Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah stands ready. The 26-year-old is on England’s stand-by list and would be the obvious replacement, even though his natural role is at centre-back, like Konsa.
Chalobah has not played for England since June 2025, when he completed the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Senegal. He has, however, remained on the fringes, making the bench for multiple World Cup qualifiers under Tuchel. He knows the environment, the expectations, and the defensive structure.
Calling him up would tilt England’s defensive balance slightly away from attacking thrust at right-back and towards solidity and cover across the back line. It would also underline just how quickly Livramento’s rise has stalled through sheer misfortune.
For now, England wait on the scan results and the judgment of the medical staff. One training-ground strain could reshape Tuchel’s defensive plans on the eve of a World Cup.
