THE next 24 hours will be crucial in deciding whether Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is fit to face England on Thursday afternoon.

The Palace stopper missed Saturday’s historic Euro 2016 opening group game against Slovakia due to a back spasm.

Liverpool’s Danny Ward deputised as Wales won 2-1 in Bordeaux and Hennessey was still missing from training on Monday morning.

But national manager Chris Coleman is hopeful that he will be fit to play against England in Lens.

“He's improved since Sunday,” said the Wales boss. “The next 24 hours will be the important stage as to whether we can add him to the training group from Wednesday.

“We’ll see if he can come through a training session and be able to participate in the game on Thursday.

“The next 24 hours will be absolutely crucial. He's got a little tweak in his back, he's had it before, and sometime these things are better than others.

“We didn't need him to rush yesterday and today, been relaxed with him.

“He's improved and we hope that will be the case that he can join in a session on Wednesday. If he comes through that then it's a green light.”

Speaking after the match on Saturday, Hennessey was confident that he would recover in time to play against the Three Lions.

“It is one of those things but it is a quick turnaround,” said the goalkeeper. “You go from broke to mended in about 24 hours.

“I had one (a spasm) and missed the Liverpool game at home for Crystal Palace. I had a similar one. So I'll have an injection now and I will probably be back in 24 hours, which sounds crazy.”

Asked if he’d be in contention for Thursday he added: “I hope so, I always like playing against England. It is a massive game and a massive occasion for us.”

Ward, who was making his first start for his country on the biggest stage on Saturday, says he does not know if he’ll be needed against England.

“I’m not expecting anything,” he said. “I just go about my business as normal, whether Wayne is fit, I play or someone else plays, we all support each other. We go about our business as normal.”