Gareth Southgate has defended his decision to include John Stones in successive England matches despite the defender sustaining an injury on Tuesday night, as Jude Bellingham salvaged a last-minute draw at Wembley with his stoppage-time equaliser.
Stones incurred an adductor injury and was substituted in the 10th minute during the match against Belgium, leaving Manchester City apprehensive about his fitness ahead of their crucial Premier League encounter against Arsenal on Sunday.
Adding to City’s concerns, Kyle Walker suffered a hamstring injury over the weekend while playing against Brazil, whereas Stones completed the full duration of the match in that fixture. Nonetheless, Southgate asserted that other players involved in the title race have also represented their countries twice during the international break, indicating that playing Stones did not pose an undue risk.
“We assess all factors, and the preceding match for him did not involve a high level of intensity,” stated Southgate. “We have followed the precedent set by other teams, such as Holland with Virgil van Dijk, Norway with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, and Holland again with Nathan Ake, who also played consecutive matches.”
Southgate expressed disappointment at Stones’ injury, speculating it to be related to the adductor region, and emphasized the importance of players being fully fit before returning to their clubs.
Southgate described the current injury crisis as the most severe he has faced during his tenure as England manager, necessitating adjustments to his squad plans after losing Walker and Harry Maguire over the weekend. Notably, six players who started against Belgium had featured in the previous weekend’s matches.
Defensive lapses led to Youri Tielemans scoring twice for Belgium, capitalizing on errors including Jordan Pickford’s misjudged kick and Lewis Dunk’s slip.
Ivan Toney marked his first England start with a penalty goal, while Bellingham’s late equaliser in the 95th minute capped off a strong second-half attacking display.
Southgate commended Bellingham’s competitive spirit and the team’s resilience in overcoming setbacks against a formidable opponent. Marcus Rashford remained unused from the bench, with Southgate indicating that the decision was tactical and not due to injury, as he sought to evaluate Anthony Gordon and debutant Kobbie Mainoo.
Southgate praised Mainoo for providing a different midfield dynamic and adapting well to the international stage at a young age.
Reflecting on his goal, Bellingham expressed satisfaction, acknowledging the criticism they would have faced had they suffered consecutive defeats.