World Cup: England boss Roy Hodgson considering changes for Uruguay clash

Roy Hodgson will carefully consider making changes to his England side for Thursday's crucial clash with Uruguay.

With England having opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Italy, their next outing has taken on added importance.

A positive result in Sao Paulo is imperative if Hodgson’s men are to progress safely out of Group D.

The same can be said for Uruguay, though, after they suffered a shock 3-1 reversal against Costa Rica in their first outing.

With both sides still searching for that spark, Hodgson and his opposite number Oscar Tabarez may decide to freshen up their ranks.

For long periods against Italy I liked the shape of the team going forward, but we have some work to do on defending. But it will be very close to the same team against Uruguay

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is expected to come in for Uruguay, despite still nursing his way back from minor knee surgery, while England could have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back at their disposal.

On the possibility of alterations being made to the XI which battled bravely through testing conditions in Manaus, Hodgson said: “We have to assess what the match has taken out of the players.

“I will be quite surprised when we do our measurements if it doesn’t show some of them have lost quite a few kilos, and there might be one or two of them that have taken a slight knock.

“But luckily there is no injury, apart from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and he’s going to be close for Thursday.

“So I have a chance to make changes, if I want.

“I would like to look at the game closely because you always get caught up in the emotions, and there are always things you see on the second run through.

“For long periods against Italy I liked the shape of the team going forward, but we have some work to do on defending. But it will be very close to the same team against Uruguay.”