Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain losing World Cup fitness race after missing cup final

Posted Monday, May 19, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN is facing up to potential World Cup heartache.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain losing World Cup fitness race after missing cup final
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The Arsenal winger is struggling in his race against time to prove he is fully fit for the finals in Brazil.

The 20-year-old missed Saturday's FA Cup triumph with a groin injury and is still well short of match fitness.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been cleared to join his England team-mates on the flight to Portugal today for warm-weather training in the Algarve.

But sources close to the player admit he is a long way from being ready for 90 minutes of competitive action.

He hasn't played since coming on as a late substitute for the Gunners in a 3-0 win at Hull on April 20.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain losing World Cup fitness race after missing cup final
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That is a worry for Roy Hodgson, who needs all his players up to full speed by the time the Three Lions face Italy in Manaus on June 14 in their World Cup curtain-raiser.

There is no like-for-like replacement for the Arsenal man on Hodgson's standby list should the 20-year-old continue to struggle.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "Look, he was desperate to play in the final. Pain-wise he could have played. I judged him short physically."

"I felt that in this game we wanted to play players who were completely fit and prepared. He was a bit short physically."

"They said to me he could play 20 or 30 minutes but you can't programme it like that. That's why I left him out. He's on the way up but he needs more fitness work now."

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain losing World Cup fitness race after missing cup final
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain losing World Cup fitness race after missing cup final England also have concerns over Jack Wilshere following his broken foot in March, but he looks further down the road to recovery than his team-mate having come on as a substitute at Wembley.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones also faces a battle to prove his fitness, with Hodgson admitting Everton's John Stones could replace him in the squad.

England will spend five days training in the Algarve before returning home to face Peru in a friendly at Wembley on May 30.

The Three Lions then fly to Miami, where they will face Ecuador and Honduras as they warm up for the finals in Brazil.