Manchester City defender training with ‘heavy strapping’ on knee ahead of Euro 2024 quarter-final showdown | OneFootball

Gareth Southgate and England will be sweating on the fitness of John Stones after the Manchester City centre-back was spotted training with ‘heavy strapping’ on his knee.

The 30-year-old has taken part and completed every single England match at the ongoing tournament in Germany this summer so far, despite issues with fitness and injury throughout the course of Manchester City’s last campaign.

Having played a transformational role in Pep Guardiola’s side’s Treble-winning season of 2023/24, John Stones was limited to 28 appearances across the whole of the last campaign, with just 16 outings in the English top-flight.

However, given his importance to the England national team, there was no chance of Stones being granted a summer off to focus on rebuilding his fitness despite his inconsistencies under Pep Guardiola last term.

But the relentless schedule being taken on by the former Everton man is now seemingly taking its toll on the versatile central defender during the crunch phase of Euro 2024, with a mammoth fixture on the horizon.

As highlighted by MailSport’s Craig Hope in attendance at England’s European Championships training base in Germany, Manchester City’s John Stones was spotted operating with significant strapping around his right-knee.

England are putting together their preparations before a huge clash against Switzerland on Saturday evening, as the Three Lions face Switzerland at the quarter-final stage of the competition.

This is a developing story. More to follow.