John Stones is facing an uncertain future with England due to illness.

Stones’ lack of match fitness could prove problematic if he does manage to recover from his illness. He started only one Premier League game in the final quarter of the season, and his participation in England’s training sessions has been limited.

Among the five central defenders selected by England manager Southgate, Stones stands out as the most crucial player, especially after the injury-enforced omission of his longtime international partner, Harry Maguire. Despite Stones’ limited playing time at the club level, he remains indispensable to the national team.

England recently commenced their training in Germany, settling at the Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort in Blankenhain. While Luke Shaw and Stones initially joined the team, Stones’ illness has once again raised concerns about the team’s defensive lineup. Ezri Konsa or Lewis Dunk are likely to fill in for Stones if he is unable to recover in time for the Serbia match.

With Stones’ availability in question, England’s defense faces a significant challenge as they prepare to face Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener. The team will be eager to put any doubts to rest and put on a strong showing in their first match of the tournament.