Gareth Southgate has defended England's medical team over their handling of Phil Jones, writes John Cross in Moscow .

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was fuming after Jones had SIX injections in a calf injury to play in the friendly against Germany three weeks ago, still had to go off before half-time that night and remains sidelined.

Southgate said: “I have every trust in our medical team that they make the right calls.

"They are very experienced people and this is an unfortunate situation and we hope Phil is back playing as soon as he can be.

“I have massive empathy with Jose. As a manager you don’t want to lose players to injury. For me, as the national coach, that’s the worst scenario when a player goes back to his club and is not able to play.

Jones has missed all four United games since his early exit against Germany (
Image:
EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock)

“We have got ongoing dialogue over this situation – it is a complex one and we want to make sure we get these things right.”

Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere has received another England snub from Southgate.

The Arsenal midfielder is desperate to get back in the Three Lions' set-up and claims his phone is always on in case he gets the call.

But Southgate responded: “Mine isn’t!

Wilshere needs to be starting Prem games for Arsenal to stand a chance (
Image:
EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

“I have had a hectic couple of weeks really. Jack seems to be getting closer to the team with Arsenal.

“He has been on the bench for the last couple of Premier League matches but he has not started yet, but there are lots of conversations with lots of different players to be had over the next couple of months really.”

And Southgate insists his England squad will not be split by club cliques.

Former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed the Golden Generation was undermined because the squad was divided because the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were bitter rivals in the Premier League.

But Southgate said: “I have already had brief conversations with some of the former players about those sorts of thing and the current players have identified things in that kind of area.

Gerrard and Lampard were part of a Three Lions generation many feel underachieved (
Image:
The FA via Getty)

“The club rivalry will always exist but I think we have a different situation where a lot more of our players have grown up not only playing together through the Under-21s, but even in age groups before that. There is a really tight feel and St George’s Park has helped that.

“There is a real interaction between the age groups now so I do think we have a different situation with this talented squad than they were in.”

poll loading

After watching the Germany and Brazil games, how far will England get at the World Cup in 2018?

4000+ VOTES SO FAR