There is optimism that England starting right back Reece James will be available for the Three Lions on Monday night against Mexico in the World Cup Round of 16, but it remains to be seen if he will be healthy enough to start or play the full 90 minutes after missing a couple of games with a tricky hamstring injury - the latest in a line of injury woes for the Chelsea standout.
Djed Spence started at right back for England against DR Congo, and while the Three Lions were able to survive thanks to his former Spurs teammate Harry Kane coming through in the clutch with a brace, a lot of questions were asked about the Tottenham Hotspur right back in the narrow victory.
While faulting Spence for the goal DR Congo scored is totally unfair as it was a team defensive failure in which Spence was caught between a rock and a hard place, the same exact issues that Spurs fans saw all season long which prevented him from establishing himself as a starter, were there to see for England.
Djed Spence may have a tricky matchup on his hands
Spence can win possession and work hard, but the overall quality of the player his lacking. His technique is below average for an England national team player, he is a so-so athlete, and he just cannot create a high volume of chances or progress the ball, regardless of which side he plays.
With Reece James coming back but not fully 100 percent yet, Djed Spence figures to play an important role for England again when they take on Mexico, and while Mexico do not have the big names they used to, they have dangerous attacking players who can hurt teams on the break.
Saudi Pro League star Julian Quinones has been one of the best goal scoring wingers of the tournament, and any player on the England national team can attest to the threat Premier League veteran Raul Jimenez carries in the box.
Mexico are a brave team and one of the host nations, and after England barely survived DR Congo, El Tri really do pose a big upset threat to them. Any margin of error can come back to bite Thomas Tuchel's team, and so if and when Spence is on that pitch, he is going to have to back Tuchel's decision to take him over Trent Alexander-Arnold, which is a controversial move that has only come increasingly under fire with each passing week. On Sunday, Spence has a chance to prove the critics wrong or give them even more ammo to go after him and Tuchel.
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