JOHN STONES AND KIERAN TRIPPIER INSIST THEY'LL OVERCOME KNEE ISSUES IN TIME TO FACE SWITZERLAND, WHILE EZRI KONSA DECLARES HIMSELF READY TO DEPUTISE FOR THE SUSPENDED MARC GUEHI
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John Stones and Kieran Trippier are confident they will overcome knee issues ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland - and Ezri Konsa has declared himself ready to replace the suspended Marc Guehi.
Gareth Southgate has much to consider regarding team selection for the tie in Dusseldorf, especially in defence.
Stones left the Veltins Arena following Sunday’s 2-1 win over Slovakia with strapping on his right knee, but the centre-back told reporters he would be ‘fine’ for the next game.
Trippier, meanwhile, was substituted in the 66th minute after taking a whack on his knee, but he also expects to be OK.
‘I think it was a really bad tackle, to be honest,’ he said. ‘The knee is just a little bit sore. Gareth made a decision to maybe tweak things, and it worked.
‘I think I’ll be fine (for Saturday). It’s just about recovering. We have five or six days until the next game. This took a lot out of us mentally, going into extra time. But it shows the character of this team.’
Guehi will be missing after picking up his second booking of the tournament and Villa centre-back Konsa, who came on in extra-time in Gelsenkirchen, is favourite to deputise.
He said: ‘I’m always ready. When the gaffer wants to play me, wherever he wants to play, I will step in. I’m always ready.’
Trippier believes the impact of substitutes such as Ivan Toney helped make the difference on Sunday, as he added: ‘The players we have on the bench can come on and make a big impact, so a big shout out to the lads like Ivan.
‘That’s why we talk in our team about how everybody has to be ready whenever you’re called upon. It just shows how hard the players who are not playing work every single day. I thought the subs made a massive impact.
You see Conor Gallagher doing doggies at the end. I don’t think people understand how important that is.’
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