John Stones is making a return to the national side tonight to play his first international game since 2019. He was a crucial part of England’s 2018 World Cup squad before falling out of favour at Man City.

However, this season has seen a turn around in his form as he’s formed a formidable defensive partnership with Ruben Dias for City. It’s enough to have earned him a recall, something he says motivated him to keep going.

“It was very tough and I think it would be the same for everyone,” Stones said. “It was difficult watching from home. You feel a bit helpless that you can’t contribute and be a part of the squad, but I used it as a motivation to strive to be better.”

Gareth Southgate spoke about the inclusions of John Stones and Jesse Lingard in England’s starting XI this evening and he had nothign but praise for the two players who have fought their way back into the national side. He said:

“They have earned the right. John has had an excellent season throughout and Jesse since he has been on loan at West Hamhas had a very good spell. We know they can play at this level, we’re really comfortable with them being with us.”

San Marino are the lowest-ranked football team in the world. With a population of around 30,000, the microstate on the hills above the Italian Riviera it has a tiny pool of potential players many of whom have other jobs whilst representing their country on the international stage.

They are regularly beaten by big margins but they have drawn two of their last three games, both 0-0, against Liechtenstein and Gibraltar in the Nations League. They were also down to 10 men for over 40 minutes in the draw with Gibraltar back in November.

These three matches will provide the young and fringe players in Gareth Southgate’s squad to make their case for a spot at this summer’s European Championship.

Players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Kalvin Phillips and even Jesse Lingard need to take their opportunities to stake a case for a spot on the plane.

England’s World Cup qualifying group consists of Albania, Andorra, Hungary, Poland, San Marino and the Three Lions themselves. Tonight’s opening fixture should see them take control of a group which shouldn’t prove too tasking for Gareth Southgate’s men.

Also on the cards for this international break is an away match against Albania on Sunday, though there are concerns about whether it will go ahead, and a return to Wembley next Wednesday where England will face Poland.

The Three Lions have won all six of their previous meetings with San Marino, scoring 37 goals and conceding just one.

Their last maeeting 2015 ended in a 6-0 win for England and Gareth Southgate hopes to see his side show a similar level of attacking freedom in this game.

“We should enjoy playing with the ball, but need to be ruthless with it,” he said. “To have the creativity to score goals we have got to be positive and say it is a game which we can enjoy.”

Raheem Sterling, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Mount will all be hungry for goals against a weak San Marino side.

England XI vs San Marino: Pope, James, Stones, Coady, Chilwell, Phillips, Ward-Prowse, Mount, Lingard, Sterling, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Kane, Henderson, Dier, Mings, Shaw, Trippier, Rice, Foden, Maguire, Watkins, Johnstone, Bellingham

“If I allowed Harry to make that decision, he would play every minute. That won’t be happening. But, look, it is brilliant we have a captain who wants to play every minute of every game.

“We have got to be mindful he had extra time last Thursday and another high-intensity game last Sunday, so we have got situations with a lot of the players, really, and we have got to make sure we manage the fixture correctly.

“We have done that through training this week as well and we need to be just as fresh with the games against Albania and Poland as we do tomorrow.

“So, that is not an unusual challenge for us as a coaching team and as a medical team and our physical performance team. But we always communicate well with the players and I think we are in a good place going into the game tomorrow.”

England will certainly ease to a victory here, but Southgate will be looking at how the younger players will adapt to international play. He could also use his full number of substitutions. The Three Lions will be in control of the match, and are likely to be up two or three goals by half time.

England’s only problem will be to avoid injury, and will probably treat this game as more of a training match with a slow pace. England 7-0 San Marino.