England World Cup Squad: Roy Hodgson Confident Over Phil Jones' Fitness
England manager Roy Hodgson is optimistic Manchester United defender Phil Jones will recover from a shoulder injury in time for the World Cup finals in Brazil this summer.
Jones went off in United's 3-1 win over Hull City in last week with the problem and missed the draw with Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.
Arsenal pair and Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, are both severe doubts for the FA Cup final against Hull City this weekend, have also been included.
Interim United boss Ryan Giggs said he expected Jones to take his place in Hodgson's squad and the England boss is hopeful the 22 year old will be available for selection come the finals after including him in his provisional 23-man squad.
"We would not have accepted or selected anyone in this 23 who we seriously thought were going to be on tenterhooks over his fitness," Hodgson said. "The only one who I would say who s seriously poses a question is Phil Jones.
"He had his shoulder injury a week ago. Everyone tells me, and my research tells me because I had the exactly the same injury twice with two players at Fulham, it's a three week injury to be back.
"There are no guarantees so we will be taking John Stones and Jon Flanagan with us on this trip."
Hodgson confirmed that Stones, the uncapped Everton centre-back, will be the direct replacement for Jones should the United utility player not prove his fitness in time for the 2 June deadline by which all squads must be submitted to Fifa.
Wilshere meanwhile hasn't played for over two months after breaking his foot on England duty against Denmark in March while Chamberlain's injury-ravaged campaign ended with him missing the final three weeks with a groin problem.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is optimistic the duo will be fit for the finals and Hodgson says late season injuries could actually benefit players going into the summer.
Hodgson added: "As for the other players, there are always going to be a situation where a player gets an injury and comes back in the case of Phil Jagielka and Jack Wilshere.
"Lots of these players are pretty fit and you could argue don't have the aftereffects from the end of the season."
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