World Cup 2014 Video: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joins training session ahead of England v Uruguay

Video: There was some encouraging news from the England camp on Monday as Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined the team's training session as he attempts to get fit for the second game against Uruguay on Thursday

England's midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain takes part in a training session at the Urca military base in Rio de Janeiro on June 16, 2014. (Ben Stansall | AFP | Getty Images)

The Evening Standard's James Olley joined the England squad back at their base at the Urca military base in Rio de Janeiro on Monday as the team held their first training session after the loss against Italy on Saturday.

Despite England's opening round defeat there were a lot of positives to take from Saturday's performance and manager Roy Hodgson believes the squad can still progress through to the last 16.

That optimism will have been enhanced on Monday by the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to training with the main England group after straining a medial knee ligament during England's 2-2 draw with Ecuador in Miami before the World Cup.

The Arsenal winger raised hopes when he partook in a few sprints with fitness coach Tony Strudwick last Tuesday and he was looking in better shape once more on Monday, just a few days before the crunch match against Uruguay.

Roy Hodgson will have to carefully consider his options for Thursday, with much talk about whether he should stick with Wayne Rooney, who is still yet to score in a World Cup tournament. It could be a big risk for Hodgson to hand Oxlade-Chamberlain a start on Thursday, depending on how he recovers over the next few days.

Still, after the performance of youngster Raheem Sterling on Saturday, Hodgson may want to continue to ensure young talent is given a chance in Brazil. Speaking after the Italy game, Hodgson said: "It was as positive performance as I have seen from us. And it gives me great hope going forward, not just the next two games, but further than that because we have players here who will develop into very strong players."