Gareth Southgate defended his decision to start John Stones in the friendly against Belgium after the England centre-back limped off five days before Manchester City’s pivotal game against Arsenal. It has been a costly international break for City, with Kyle Walker ­having made an early exit ­during England’s defeat against Brazil last Satur­day. Stones going off with a suspected adductor problem at the start of the 2-2 draw with Belgium on Tuesday means Pep Guardiola could be ­without two key defenders when his side host Arsenal in a huge clash at the top of the Premier League on Sunday. City are unlikely to be happy given that Stones had already played the full game against Brazil. But ­Southgate, who made only five changes against Belgium, refused to accept that he risked overloading players before the resumption of the domestic season. “We measure everything and the first game for him wasn’t a game that was a high level in terms of the intensity,” Southgate said. “We have done exactly what Holland did with Virgil van Dijk tonight. What Norway did with Erling Haaland and ­Martin ­Ødegaard starting them again. ­Holland started [Nathan] Aké again. “It only ever seems to fall on us when there is a question around that. Of course we are disappointed if he’s got a problem. It seems to be in the adductor area so we’ll have to wait and see. John also came in on the back of not having played for two weeks so it is not an overload situation. I hate sending players back to their clubs if they are not fully fit.” Everton’s Jordan Pickford, City’s Phil Foden, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell joined Stones in starting both games during this camp. Southgate wanted strong displays as he ramps up preparations for Euro 2024. He was delighted with Kobbie Mainoo after the 18-year-old midfielder enjoyed an impressive full debut against Belgium. Bellingham, who secured a draw for England with a last-minute ­equaliser, praised the side’s fight. “I liked it,” the Real Madrid midfielder said. “I knew the rubbish we would’ve got if we had lost two games on the bounce.”