Stones is happy to keep flying under the radar for England

WHO is the most influential footballer in the England team?

That’s an easy one, you say. In terms of impact, it’s surely Harry Kane: two-goal hero against Tunisia on Monday night. In terms of leadership, then it’s probably Jordan Henderson, emotional bulwark of the side.

But in terms of 90-minute footballing output — the nuts and bolts of how an elite team functions — there’s a strong case to be made for someone else.

Namely the assured, dynamic and still curiously underrated John Stones (right).

Quietly, Stones put in a masterful display against Tunisia. There were his three attempts on goal, one effectively the assist for Kane’s opener.

He won 75% of his headers. He made four tackles and interceptions. Most impressively of all, he completed more passes than any other player, and with spectacular consistency: a 99% completion rate, the highest of any outfield player at this World Cup.

As England try to break down Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday night, a team who will sit back and soak up pressure, you can guarantee that it is the advancing Stones, time and again, to whom they will turn.

“From that central position I have so many options,” he said. “I have the ball trying to set up things, and on the other side I have a big role organising and making sure we don’t get counter-attacked.”

England’s frustrating but ultimately fruitful second half in Volgograd suggests that they will once again look to strike that balance against Panama.

Under Southgate, Stones (right) has become a sort of totem, one of the indelible names on the team-sheet.

“The gaffer kept telling us not to do anything different,” he recalled of the second half against Tunisia. “We didn’t create as many chances, but we ground them down and moved the ball from side to side. Being on the other end of that is not a nice thing to be a part of.” Perhaps the reason Stones remains underrated is because his function with England is out of step with his role in Manchester City’s title-winning side, where niggling injuries and a consequent loss of rhythm meant he only once completed 90 minutes in the Premier League since January.

In a sense, however, it has kept him fresh for his summer assignment.

“I never took my spot for granted in the England team,” he said. “If you’ve got that mentality of fighting for your place and fighting to improve, then you know you’ve done everything you can.

“Gareth’s shown a lot of faith in me. I can’t express enough how thankful I am for that.”

Maybe it all goes belly-up against Panama and Belgium. But, unlike their predecessors, you sense that they will remain faithful right to the last.

Whether on the pitch or off, in victory or defeat, neither Stones nor England look capable of taking a backward step.