England’s first-choice center-back and Manchester City star John Stones reveals that after sustaining an injury against Iceland in a friendly, he was initially very concerned and mentally prepared for missing the UEFA European Championship. He also shares his challenging experience during a recent isolation period due to illness.
Stones has had a rough spell lately. On Friday local time, England lost their final pre-Euro 2020 friendly 0-1 to Iceland, with Stones being substituted due to a foot injury. He admits his fear of potentially missing the tournament: “At first, I was really worried, thinking about how it happened, how I landed. I knew it wasn’t my knee or ankle… It was almost like my big toe wasn’t moving at all, and I thought, ‘It must be broken.’ I was thinking, if the worst-case scenario happens, I’ll do whatever it takes, doctors, medication, injections… Whatever it is, I don’t want to miss the Euros! I was ready for anything. Thankfully, I had some checks, and there wasn’t anything serious. That’s great news!”
Stones underwent two scans, confirming that there was no significant damage. A few days prior to this scare, he had been isolated for 1.5 days due to an illness.
Recalling the situation, Stones says, “I’ve never felt so terrible in my life. Those 36 hours were difficult. The day before, during an open training session, I didn’t feel right, but I thought it would pass. I called the doctor in the middle of the night, told him I wasn’t feeling well, and then I was put into isolation. Honestly, it can be very isolating. I would sleep and watch TV to pass the time, but I’d feel hot and cold and sweat. Most of the day, I was watching TV and talking to my family, which helped me get through it.”
As a key central defender and defensive linchpin for the Three Lions, Stones’ experience and abilities are crucial for England. His recent tribulations have certainly caused concern among fans. However, Stones asserts that he is now on the mend: “I’m back on track now, doing some extra gym work to make up for the missed days. Physically, I feel great, and I’m looking forward to the Euro matches!”