Euro 2012: Glen Johnson vows to defy toe injury for England cause

Glen Johnson has vowed to cope with a toe infection the England defender picked up towards the end of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign.

The 27-year-old was tasked with marking France’s Franck Ribéry during the 1-1 draw in their opening Euro 2012 Group D game, with Johnson taking antibiotics to cope with his injury.

The right-back insists the problem will not affect the rest of his tournament, with Johnson set to make his 38th appearance for the national team against Sweden on Friday.

“For the last four Premier League games I had a toe infection and was playing with three injections just to kill the pain,” said Johnson.

“I’ve been on antibiotics for pretty much five weeks now. It’s still there [the pain] but it is manageable. I came off them [the antibiotics] for five days and it got a lot worse so I’m still on them.

“I’m training but it is sore after games. They [the antibiotics] are obviously doing something. It’s still there.

“But we are in the European championship. I’m not going to let my little toe stop me from playing.

“We’ve got two more group games and you want to enjoy your moments and give it your hardest every game.”

Johnson heaped praise on England for their dogged performance against France, and the defender believes the Three Lions should be happy with a point against one of the tournament favourites.

“They are a fantastic side and I think the lads did well to dig in and show good character,” he added.

“It was difficult, it was very hot. They had the majority of the possession so we are doing the harder work.

“We go into every game trying to win but it was a good point.”

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