Jordan Pickford has confirmed John Stones is fit to start England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, and hailed the Manchester City tar as “one of the best centre-backs in the world”.
Stones’s importance to England has been amplified heading into the tournament by the absence of regular partner Harry Maguire because of injury.
However, the 30-year-old has had his own fitness problems of late, picking up an ankle injury in last week’s friendly defeat to Iceland and then sitting out training on Wednesday because of illness.
Pickford, though, confirmed that his teammate is “fit and ready to go” in a significant boost to Gareth Southgate, who must now decide which of his deputy centre-backs starts alongside Stones on Sunday, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi the favourite.
"Stonesy, I remember playing with him in Germany at U19s level and he made the step up early,” Pickford said. “I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a top player, with what he’s won for his club.
“He’s one of the best centre-backs in the world and for England he’s been quality, the amount of caps he’s got as well. He’s a top lad as well.”
Pickford and Stones have both been lynchpins of Southgate’s defence at the last three major tournaments, as have Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.
However, Trippier is expected to start out of position at left-back against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen as Luke Shaw continues his recovery, while Maguire’s absence means there will be a new look to the Three Lions back-four.
There has also been a significant turnover of players across the squad at large in the 18 months since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with 13 players axed from that squad. Pickford, though, is not concerned on either front.
“A lot of the lads I’ve played with a lot over the last 18 months and anyone in the England squad is there for what they’ve done for the club,” the Everton goalkeeper said.
"We’ve got the right balance. With the experience we can help the younger lads who haven’t had as many caps but everyone’s got different experiences through their football careers.
There are a lot of lads who are new but who’ve been to major tournaments at younger levels, where you’ve got to go away form home for a while.
“Us as senior lads have to help those young lads if need be but they’re top players and they don’t need much help.”
