​Phil Jones' injury-laden spell at Manchester United has reared its ugly head after the centre-back reportedly suffered broken toes while on international duty.





The defender was dealt the new blow following an innocuous challenge by United and England team-mate Chris Smalling as the Three Lions prepared for their friendly encounter with Germany on Tuesday, the ​Daily Mirror reported.





The former Blackburn Rovers starlet has now returned to Manchester so that the club's medical team can assert the extent of the damage.





Jones' injury will infuriate Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho, whose side have to contend with playing nine matches throughout the month of April once the March international break is over, and the 53-year-old could now be forced to tear up his new three-man centre-half formation in Jones' absence.

So Chris Smalling broke Phil Jones toe in training for England...couldn't write it could you...#MUFC — The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) March 21, 2017

England manager Gareth Southgate was quizzed about the issue during his pre-match press conference on Monday, and admitted that Jones had been sent back to United's Carrington training base for scans on the foot injury.





He said: “We don’t know the full extent of it. We have respectfully sent him back to his club and we will know more once he has had scans and an x-ray over the next 24-48 hours.





“It was just an innocuous tackle. Phil caught the bottom of his foot in the challenge and we think he suffered an injury to his toe.

“It is very unfortunate for him and a huge disappointment because he has been playing very well and he has had some injury difficulties in the past.”





Jones had allegedly been in line to start for Southgate's side against their bitter international rivals in Dortmund on Tuesday, but the Three Lions boss will now have to play Chelsea's Gary Cahill alongside Smalling without the services of Jones.





Jones had been in fine form for United in recent weeks, with the 25-year-old featuring in 22 of the last 31 matches in all competitions for Mourinho's side before his latest setback.



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