England took good care of Lewis Dunk as decision day for Euro 2024 moved closer.

The Albion skipper played the first 72 minutes of a 3-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Newcastle in the penultimate pre-tournament friendly.

Dunk was very comfortable as he started alongside Marc Guehi and then had ten minutes partnering Jarred Branthwaite.

He made way for Joe Gomez with the hosts 1-0 up.

England boss Gareth Southgate said: “Lewis Dunk felt something and we didn’t want to take any risks with that, hence that late change.”

Dunk missed the final 135 minutes of Albion’s season with a minor knee injury.

Confirmation of who goes to Germany will come this weekend.

Dunk was not given the toughest of defensive tests but did what was required, was composed on the ball and might have got on the end of a couple of crosses.

He had previously seen generally sound displays against Brazil and Belgium marred by moments of misjudgement.

But there was no such problem this time.

The one lapse was by Guehi when a stray pass gave Haris Hajradinovic a chance to let fly with a shot which deflected narrowly wide.

The fact Dunk started appeared to put him ahead of Branthwaite in the pecking order although the Everton man got on for a first cap in the later stages.

John Stones returns to the line-up when England face Iceland on Friday but Harry Maguire will miss that one.

Which poses two questions. Does Dunk make the squad?

And, if Maguire continues to be ruled out by injury, who partners Stones at the start of the tournament itself?

On BBC Radio 5 Live, expert summarisers Leon Osman and Jonathan Woodgate seemed convinced Dunk will be in the final 26 when Southgate cuts seven names from his training squad.

At the same time, those who follow England for the written press seem to think there is  chance he will not make the cut. But we will soon find out.

One of those not making the trip would appear to be James Trafford.

Liverpool duo Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones also seem likely to miss out.

Luke Shaw is a major injury doubt but common consensus appears to be that Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze have given themselves a real chance of inclusion.

England were somewhat laboured in possession for at least 45 minutes and Trent Alexander-Arnold, in midfield, looked their most creative passer of the ball.

He also provided some cutting edge out wide when shifted to right-back and added a superb finish with a right-foot volley to make 2-0.

Harry Kane added the third and will start against Iceland.

Until that late flurry, it seemed England would win courtesy of Cole Palmer’s first England goal.

He looked on in relief as his penalty found the bottom corner but was slightly disappointing in general play.

“Palmer stars in England win” read the headline on the BBC website but it did not feel quite like that.

Clearly the one-time Albion target is a good option to have in the squad but it is also worth tempering expectation.

The spot kick was awarded somewhat generously via VAR for a shirt-pull on Ezri Konsa by Benjamin Tahirovic, the midfielder Albion fans might remember as the AEK player who was sent-off against them in Athens.

Jack Grealish, who some observers believe might miss out, was part of a bright England finish and floated a superb pass for Alexander-Arnold’s goal, just as it felt like – in sometimes characteristic style – he had taken too long on the ball.

Kane’s introduction livened up the hosts, which was both good news in itself but not a great reflection on Ollie Watkins’ performance or Ivan Toney’s absence from the action.

Former centre-back Woodgate told 5 Live listeners: “It could be down to the Iceland game.

“Gareth Southgate has an incredibly tough decision on who he takes.

“They are all outstanding players.

“Our squad depth is the best I have ever seen it.”

Whether the same can be said about the star quality and elite performers to secure glory in Germany remains to be seen.

But Dunk has done what he can to be part of it.