Fears about the fitness of England forward Danny Welbeck were confirmed on Wednesday when he missed a training session ahead of his side's opening World Cup game against Italy.
British newspaper reports on Tuesday claimed the Manchester United player had been forced out of a closed training session with a thigh injury and he did not emerge for training at England's Rio de Janeiro base on Wednesday.
Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is working his way back to fitness after damaging knee ligaments in a friendly against Ecuador, was also absent.
The Football Association has yet to comment on Welbeck's injury status.
Beneath warm sunshine at the Urca military base, which looks out over Guanabara Bay, the remaining players were put through possession and coordination exercises in the part of the session that was open to the media.
England face Italy in Manaus on Saturday in their opening Group D game.
Source: AFP
