John Stones was isolating from his England team-mates on Wednesday night as medical staff attempted to prevent illness spreading through the camp on the eve of the European Championship.
The Manchester City defender was the only player to miss training at their Blankenhain base on Wednesday as he battles a sickness bug, and he is now a doubt for Sunday’s Group C opener against Serbia.
Stones trained at an open session in Jena on Tuesday after overcoming an ankle knock and was expected to line up alongside Marc Guehi in Gelsenkirchen.
However, Lewis Dunk is now on standby to come into the side and he featured prominently as the team worked on defensive shape during yesterday’s session.
When asked if he would be in the frame to start in Stones’ absence, the Brighton centre-back said: ’I would hope so. I’m not just here for a holiday!
John Stones has been confined to his room after missing England training through illness
Stones has a sickness bug and is a doubt for England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia
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‘John felt a bit rough yesterday (Tuesday), so we haven’t seen him today. There are a few days until Sunday, and we’ll see what happens. But I’m here to play games and win matches, and hopefully we can take the trophy home. That’s what I’m here for.’
Dunk has gone from a player on the periphery of the squad to a possible starter in less than a week, after Harry Maguire missed out because of injury. And he admits the March internationals – when his error led to a goal in the 2-2 draw with Belgium – did not go to plan.
‘That camp didn’t go as I would have liked,’ he said. ‘There was a mistake leading to a goal, but that’s football, isn’t it? Everyone makes mistakes. It is how you bounce back from that. I had to come back into the pre-camp and show as much as I could.’
England have worked this week on the threat that will be posed by Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Dunk is not having the notion of the defence being a weak link.
In Stones’ absence, Lewis Dunk is preparing to step up if needed in England’s opening game
‘That is your opinion,’ he said when it was put to him. ‘Of course we are dismissing that. Inside the dressing room and inside the camp we are as confident as ever. We wouldn’t be here if the manager didn’t think we could play for England. I don’t see why that would be the case.’
Dunk has also been giving thought to the prospect of marking Mitrovic at the Veltins Arena.
‘He’s a big strong centre-forward who likes peeling to the back post and scoring goals,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to be switched onto that and make sure we mark him all the time.’
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