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Chris Smalling's knee injury not serious, say Football Association

England's Chris Smalling during a training session at Stade de Bourgognes, Chantilly.
Image: England defender Chris Smalling is expected to train on Wednesday

The Football Association has confirmed Chris Smalling's knee injury is not serious and he is expected to train on Wednesday.

Pictures emerged on Tuesday night of the England defender returning from training with a strapping around his left knee. 

Smalling had been taking part in England's second training session of the day, having earlier trained in front of the assembled media as well as Chantilly schoolchildren and dignitaries. 

England train in Chantilly
England train in Chantilly

England trained in public on Tuesday morning for the first time since arriving in Chantilly…

He has since taken to his official Twitter page, posting: "First training session" accompanied with a tick and pictures of him training.

The news will come as a relief for England manager Roy Hodgson, who is currently sweating on the fitness of left-back Ryan Bertrand. 

Ryan Bertrand trains with Gary Lewin away from the main England squad
Image: Ryan Bertrand trained away from the rest of the England squad on Tuesday

Bertrand trained separately with physio Gary Lewin due to an unspecified knock and is facing a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of England's Group B opener against Russia in Marseille on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, Jamie Vardy trained with the rest of the squad as he continues to deliberate over whether to leave Leicester for Arsenal.

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England will train again on Wednesday evening, although Smalling will speak to the media before that session in a press conference at around 1pm.  

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