‘We may as well not even go’ – England injury worry as key Euro 2024 star subbed off at half time after taking knock
JOHN STONES handed England another big injury scare in defence.
The centre-back went off at half-time in Friday’s final warm-up game for Euro 2024 against Iceland at Wembley.
Fans reacted with despair and disbelief after the Manchester City hero was replaced by Ezri Konsa.
Fellow central defender Harry Maguire missed the cut for Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad 24 hours earlier due to his calf problem.
And Lewis Dunk was forced to sit out Friday’s friendly as the Brighton skipper is still a week off full fitness.
Meanwhile, left-back Luke Shaw will also be sidelined from main action for several more days.
England open their Euros bid against Serbia in just nine days’ time.
And one supporter posted: “If John Stones is injured as well, we may as well not even go.”
A reporter for channel 4, who broadcast the match live, suggested the 30-year-old “looked to be walking ok in the tunnel”.
But the last thing Southgate needs is more injury doubts at the back.
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Stones appeared to get hurt when he was hauled to the ground in an ungainly tangle with Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson.
And in fact he was one of the Three Lions’ defenders slightly exposed when the same Iceland winger stole inside to drill the visitors’ shock opener on 12 minutes.
And a laboured England display only got more disjointed as the second-half replacements totted up.
Southgate has put Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah on standby at the back.
Quansah was one of seven players omitted on Thursday when England’s squad was pruned from 33 to its final size for the Euros.