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John Stones returned to England training on Thursday after overcoming an illness in a boost to Gareth Southgate's plans for this weekend's Group C opener against Serbia. The Manchester City defender had been confined to his room after falling ill earlier in the week but was present as all 26 players took part in the squad's latest session at their Weirmarer Land Golf and Spa Resort base in Blankenhain. Stones' preparations for Sunday's game in Gelsenkirchen were initially complicated by an ankle problem which forced his half-time withdrawal in last week's final warm-up game against Iceland at Wembley. The 30-year-old appears to have survived that injury scare and Southgate will likely gamble on Stones' inclusion against Serbia given the absence of his long-term centre-back partner Harry Maguire. Stones has started every tournament game since Southgate took charge in 2016 and is expected to anchor the back four alongside Marc Guéhi in the absence of Maguire, who was ruled out of the tournament with a muscular injury.
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