England injury boost with Luke Shaw ‘ready’ to play Switzerland… but team-mate trains with strapping on knee
LUKE SHAW is finally “ready” for action – despite his late swerve of press duties yesterday.
While John Stones also took part in full training, albeit with heavy strapping on his right knee.
Shaw has not played a minute during the Euros as he recovers from a muscle injury that has sidelined him since February.
He was expected to speak to the media yesterday but had a late change of heart.
That was understood not to be due to any setback but because he preferred to speak publicly once he had returned to action.
The Manchester United defender, 28, was involved fully in yesterday’s training along with all other 25-members of England’s squad.
But he is still not expected to start Saturday’s quarter-final with Switzerland after five months out, despite him being the only natural left-back in Gareth Southgate’s group.
Team-mate Ivan Toney joked he was “a professional sub” now after being drafted in as Shaw’s press-conference replacement, having come on in the final minutes of Sunday’s last-16 win over Slovakia.
The Brentford striker said: “He’s training well and is looking ready.
“We’ll have to see what the gaffer does.
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“He’s a top player and I’m sure he’ll play his part if he’s ready.”
Stones was seen with a strapped up right leg after Sunday’s dramatic late win over the Slovaks – and was sporting it again in yesterday’s training session.
The Manchester City defender, 30, suffered an ankle injury in the last warm-up game against Iceland before the tournament, before a bout of sickness saw him holed up in his room ahead of the opener against Serbia.
He has played every single minute of England’s matches in Germany this summer though, including the 120 against Slovakia.
Southgate is considering switching to a back three against Switzerland.
The Three Lions trained in that formation for the first time at the tournament today.