Manchester United defender Phil Jones has pulled out of the England squad to face Germany and Lithuania during the international break after suffering an injury.
The 25-year-old picked up the unspecified injury during a training session ahead of the Three Lions’ friendly against Germany in Dortmund on Wednesday and has now returned to Carrington for treatment.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the centre-back received a ‘bit of a whack’, but the injury is not serious.
England confirmed that there were no immediate plans to call up a replacement for Jones and manager Gareth Southgate would assess his defensive options with centre-back Gary Cahill suspended for the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley.
Jones only returned to the United first-team earlier this month, having spent February on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during the Reds’ 0-0 draw against Hull in the Premier League.
Before that, he had been an ever-present in José Mourinho’s side, putting behind his recent injury woes and making seventeen appearances since missing the start of the season with a knee problem.
And his performances had been outstanding during that period, with his manager backing him for an England recall all the way back in December, which had come to fruition in this international break:
Jones is doing this season much better than in the previous two seasons and he’s giving hope to everyone that he can be back to normality.
And who knows? Be back to the national team, be a firm choice at Manchester United, because he’s doing very well.
I’m surprised because even with me he had these injuries that stopped him for a long time.
Now he looks fresh and sharp and fast, agile. I think he had a big evolution.
UPDATE (22.30 GMT): In a twist coming straight out a detective novel, it now seems that Jones may have a broken toe, caused by none other than his United team-mate, Chris Smalling!
Twitter: Manchester United made to sweat on Phil Jones’ suspected broken toe
https://t.co/Y4sIUjXTxQ (@TeleFootball)
