James Rodriguez could play vs. England after muscle tear ruled out

There's increasing hope that James Rodriguez will feature in Colombia's last-16 clash with England on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old only suffered swelling in his right leg when he trudged off the pitch earlier in the week, the country's football association (FCF) confirmed Sunday.

"James Rodriguez underwent a scan today which showed that he is suffering from minor edema (swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid) in his right leg, but that there has been no muscle tear," the FCF said in a statement obtained by Reuters.

Rodriguez's early departure from Colombia's Group H finale versus Senegal raised fears that he would miss the knockout stages. Head coach Jose Pekerman admitted he was "very worried" about his star playmaker, adding that the "situation is tough for the team."

Colombia didn't say whether Rodriguez will recover by Tuesday, but Reuters reports there's a "possibility" he will play a part in the one-off contest.

A similar calf issue forced Rodriguez to sit out most of his country's opening match against Japan, but he returned to start the following encounter with Poland, supplying two assists in the eventual 3-0 victory.