Lee Carsley names new England captain for Greece clash as Harry Kane to miss out
Lee Carsley has turned to John Stones to captain England with Harry Kane absent and the Manchester City defender will lead out his nation against Greece at Wembley
by John Cross, Samuel Meade · The MirrorJohn Stones admits he was left speechless after being told he will captain England against Greece.
Manchester City defender Stones has never captained England from the start before and says it is a childhood dream to lead his country out at Wembley.
England interim boss Lee Carsley has given Stones the honour because Harry Kane is not fit enough to start against Greece, although he hopes to face Finland.
Stones, 30, who will win his 82nd cap, said: “It’s everything I dreamed of as a kid. It’s a special moment and I cannot thank Lee enough. It was a great conversation but to be honest I didn’t know what to say and I was a bit speechless.”
Carsley added: “It’s a brilliant achievement for John for his level of professionalism and the example he sets for the younger lads.”
Stones made his England debut back in 2014, when he'd impressed at the back for Everton. He was one of Pep Guardiola's first signings in Manchester and has since been a serial winner under the Catalan. His CV now boasts six Premier League titles and he helped the club claim the treble last year.
The centre-half has been a regular for years and is set to start alongside Cole Palmer, a man he formerly shared a dressing room with. The playmaker has since moved to Chelsea, where he's excelled, and now is set for his first competitive start for the Three Lions.
Stones said: “I was a huge fan of Cole as soon as he came into our first-team set up, what he brought to the game, how he played as if he was in the park. I was sad to see him leave, I made him aware of that, but what he has gone on and done is a credit to him, how he’s conducted himself, how he’s stepped up in big moments.
“He is in a good moment, and I hope that continues for as long as possible. Scoring in the final, he has experienced those big games now and big moments and hopefully there is more of that to come.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches 'lowest price' Premier League package
£43 (was £52)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £216 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
With Ultra HD included at no extra cost, football fans can enjoy the 2024/25 season with crystal clear picture quality.