England manager Gareth Southgate defended selecting John Stones against Belgium after the Manchester City centre-back limped off with an abductor injury just days before his club’s pivotal Premier League clash with Arsenal.

Gareth Southgate Defends Selection of John Stones

Stones was substituted within the opening stages of England’s 2-2 draw at Wembley on Tuesday night after playing the full game against Brazil on Saturday evening.

Injury Woes for Stones and Walker

England’s camp has been disrupted by several injuries to Southgate’s squad and the injury added to the defensive issues facing City, with right-back Kyle Walker also picking up an injury problem against Brazil.

City's Defensive Concerns

Pep Guardiola’s side host Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday in a key game in the title race but Southgate insisted that England did not regret starting Stones ahead of the fixture.

Southgate's Comments

“We measure everything,” he said after the 2-2 draw. “The first game wasn’t a game which was a high level in terms of intensity. We’ve done exactly what Holland did with Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake and what Norway did with Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland. It only seems to fall on us when there’s a question on that."

Positive Emergence of Players

Further injuries to Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Reece James saw England select an inexperienced back-four, with Ezri Konsa making his first international start alongside Lewis Dunk.

Southgate's Praise for Debutants

Southgate praised Konsa, as well as fellow debutants Ivan Toney, who scored a first-half penalty, and 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who was named man-of-the-match after a standout display.