World Cup 2014: Phil Jones provides England with fitness boost

The Manchester United defender has been struggling with a shoulder injury

Simon Peach
Tuesday 27 May 2014 12:28 BST
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Phil Jones trained with the England squad at St George's Park on Tuesday as he steps up his return from a shoulder injury.

Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson named the Manchester United defender in his 23-man World Cup squad, although has admitted concerns over the knock he sustained towards the end of the Premier League season.

Jones was restricted to light sessions at last week's training camp in the Algarve and, while not yet involved in full-contact training, was doing ball work with his England team-mates at St George's Park.

The players trained in front of more than 300 people on Tuesday, with members of the media joined by staff and competition winners from Vauxhall, the England team sponsor, at the partly-open session.

Like in Portugal, England's players wore extra layers for training to up their body temperatures and sweat rates ahead of the Group D opener against Italy in Manaus, deep in the heart of the Amazon.

Only two players were missing from the 25 players brought to Burton-upon-Trent, comprised of the 23-man World Cup squad as well as standby players John Stones and Jon Flanagan.

Manchester City's James Milner did not train due to a cold, while Leighton Baines was absent from the session due to a family commitment. The Everton left-back is expected to link-up with the squad again on Tuesday evening.

PA

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