Foden, Sterling and Mount shine in a blistering attack v defence session at the Riverside

England’s victory over Romania wasn’t the only action of the evening, as players who featured in the Champions League final took part in a fierce attack v defence session at the Riverside Stadium after the game.

Gareth Southgate‘s men took a narrow 1-0 victory in their final warm-up game before they face Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener next Sunday.

The England manager put out an unfamiliar side which mostly featured players who are not expected to start the next game.

Chelsea and Manchester City players had a kick-about following England’s friendly victory

Chelsea and Manchester City players arrived late to camp due to the Champions League final

After the final whistle the fierce action continued as a number of players who didn’t feature including Chelsea and Manchester City’s Champions League final stars had an intense session just one week after they vied for club football’s biggest prize.

They were also joined by Jordan Henderson who returned to the fold during the second-half of the game and is trying to work his way back to full fitness, as well as Ollie Watkins, Conor Coady and Jordan Pickford.  

They played in one-half of the pitch while a lawnmower was going over the grass on the other side of the Riverside Stadium which also hosted England’s victory over Austria on Wednesday.

Their post-match training included some shuttle runs and some short sided-games with an attack against defence look to it.

Champions League winner Ben Chilwell scored a screamer on the diagonal past Jordan Pickford while team-mate Mason Mount impressed.

Raheem Sterling was said to be looking lively in the session, after what has been a disappointing second-half to the season for him based on his form.  

John Stones is among the players from both sides who hope to start next week’s opener

Ben Chilwell scored a screamer during the session while Phil Foden looked lively

Newly crowned PFA Young Player of the Year Phil Foden also looked energetic, with the Manchester City youngster one of several attacking players  contending to start next week’s opener.

The session was overseen by Steve Holland as Gareth Southgate did media work and was with those who played in tonight’s game other than Henderson and Watkins. 

England haven’t had the ideal warm-up week for the Euros with Chelsea, Manchester City and United stars arriving to the fold later than others due to their participation in the Champions League and Europa League finals. 

In the game against Romania, Marcus Rashford returned to the line-up and scored from the penalty spot in the second-half, as the Manchester United man was handed the captain’s armband for his country for the first time.

England did have the chance to double their lead when Henderson played through Dominic Calvert-Lewin who was fouled inside the box.

Raheem Sterling has struggled for form but also looked lively during an intense session

It was expected that Calvert-Lewin would take the spot-kick, but the Everton striker allowed the Liverpool captain to take it on his return to the England squad.

Henderson was determined to score his first goal for his country, but his effort was tame and comfortably parried by the Romanian goalkeeper.

However, the midfielder’s second-half run-out will have given Southgate some form of relief as he looks to prove his fitness to make an impact at this summer’s summer’s tournament.

Henderson had not played for club or country since Liverpool’s Merseyside Derby defeat to Everton on February 20.

The Liverpool midfielder is not Southgate’s only selection dilemma with hugely important defender Harry Maguire still to come back from the injury he suffered at the end of the season with Manchester United.

England have a number of selection dilemmas including the fitness of Harry Maguire

Maguire’s participation in the tournament is under some doubt, and his absence could force Southgate to change from playing a 4-3-3 system to playing five at the back.

Southgate also still needs to pick his replacement for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.

James Ward-Prowse, Ben Godfrey and Ben White all started against Romania, while Jesse Lingard and Ollie Watkins are also hoping for a last minute call-up into the 26-man squad

Southgate has a big decision to make on who should start alongside Kane in the forward positions.

Jack Grealish and Rashford impressed against Romania, while Sterling, Foden, Mount and Jadon Sancho will all be vying to make the starting eleven as well.  

James Ward-Prowse is one of several backups looking to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold