Major England boost ahead of Euro 2024 opener with John Stones out of quarantine and back in training with full squad

ENGLAND fans will have breathed a big sigh of relief when John Stones stepped out for training in Blankenhain this morning.

That is because he is by far and away our best and most experienced centre-back - and without him the middle of defence would be even more of a worry than it already is.

Stones gave his nation a second scare in a matter of days after missing training on Wednesday with a sickness bug.

Lewis Dunk revealed the Manchester City man had been feeling rough on Tuesday, while Adam Wharton said Stones had been holed up in his room trying to recover on Wednesday.

It followed Stones needing his ankle strapped after coming off at half-time in Friday’s alarming 1-0 warm-up defeat to Wembley at Iceland.

His 72 England appearances dwarfs the next most capped centre-back Joe Gomez with 15 - and he is not even thought of as central defender here, but a back-up left-back.

Wayne Rooney has spoken of his concern about the lack of trophy-winners in this squad, but Stones is a silverware machine, scooping 15 at his time at the Etihad.

His man-of-the-match performance in last season’s Champions League final victory over Inter Milan proved what a big game player he is.

And without big pal Harry Maguire, missing here due to a calf injury, the importance of Stones being fit to start is amplified.

Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, scorer of 58 goals in 91 caps, will be licking his lips at facing England’s backline after the Iceland shock.

But Stones has been there, done that and bought the T-shirt at this level, having been part of the last four tournaments. 

And fitness-permitting, the 30-year-old will be confident of handling the powerful former Fulham man to help give Gareth Southgate’s men the perfect start on Sunday.

That means playing Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in attacking midfield roles, with Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka on the wings, either side of Harry Kane up top.

Wilshere said: “In the group stage against teams we should beat, we can  afford to be more expansive, let’s attack.

“It wasn’t that long ago we were saying we didn’t have the Spanish-type of players who can dominate the ball, now we have.

“So let’s try to utilise that, dominate the ball and go for goals.”

And the ex-England midfielder wants Trent Alexander-Arnold to get the nod at right-back, with Kyle Walker centre-back.

He added: “If you play Trent at right-back and he drifts in midfield, he can switch the play at speed. Walker’s pace will get you out of trouble.”

Read more from Jack Wilshere during Euro 2024.