England‘s preparations for their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia were complicated on Wednesday after John Stones missed training due to illness.
The Manchester City defender was the only member of Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad who sat out the session at the Weimarer Land Spa & Golf Resort.
Stones limped out of last Friday’s final warm-up game against Iceland at Wembley with an ankle problem and although fears have eased over that particular issue, Southgate will be hopeful Stones is available to anchor the defence given the absence of his long-term centre-back partner Harry Maguire.
With Maguire ruled out of the tournament due to a muscular problem, Stones is the most experienced centre-back in the squad and is expected to start if fit alongside Marc Guéhi in Sunday’s Group C clash against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.