Injured John Stones to miss England Euro 2016 qualifiers

John Stones has been ruled out of England’s upcoming European Championship qualifiers with Estonia and Lithuania with injury, the FA have confirmed.

Stones is nearly certain to be sent back to Everton to continue his rehabilitation and is now in a race against time to be fit for the clash with Manchester United at Goodison Park after the worldwide break.

England manager Roy Hodgson has brought in Tottenham’s Andros Townsend and Kyle Walker as cover.

I’m other news three other members of the England squad also missed training, with Wayne Rooney, Danny Ings and Jonjo Shelvey also nursing likely knocks like Stones.

They will be monitored ahead of Friday’s meeting with the Estonians at Wembley, when already more than 75,000 fans expected to attend the game.

Spurs midfielder Townsend, 24, has not played for his country since the victory over Slovenia in June, while defender Walker has not featured since the 1-1 draw with Italy in March.

England have already qualified for the tournament in France after winning all eight of their matches so far.