JOHN Stones was an unused substitute for Manchester City’s EFL Cup win this week and is now in the England squad.
The Thurlstone man and former Barnsley player, now 31, has endured another injury-plagued season, making just 15 appearances for City and one for England.
He sat on the bench at Wembley as his team beat Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday.
England are due to host Uruguay on Friday then Japan on Tuesday, both at Wembley, in their final games before the summer when they play in the World Cup.
Stones has 87 caps, making him the 15th most capped England men’s player ever and the second most for a centre-back behind World Cup winner Bobby Moore.
His only starts since December had been in FA Cup wins over Salford and Newcastle United.
Stones will be hoping to make Thomas Tuchel’s final squad for the World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada which begins in June.
It would be his sixth major tournament after going to Euro 2016, 2020 and 2024 – playing in the finals of the last two – plus the World Cups in 2018 and 2022.
