Scott glad to ditch his mask

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is glad he has been given the all clear to ditch his mask.

Scott had to wear it after fracturing his jaw in a collision with Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings during a Premier League match on 10 May.

Speaking to BBC Sport before the Premier League Summer Series in the United States, Scott says his doctors were surprised he managed to get through all five games during England Under-21s' glorious European Championship campaign with it on.

However, that was his aim from the moment he understood what had happened.

And while he did contemplate continuing to wear it, Scott has immediately ditched it after being given the all clear.

"I got a scan the other day to see how the healing was and thankfully it has all gone smoothly," he said.

"They [the doctors] were shocked I was able to play throughout the Euros with the mask but as soon as it happened, that was the only thing on my mind - I need to be fit for this tournament.

"Because I played the whole tournament with the mask and won it tournament, part of me keeps thinking I should carry on wearing it.

"But it is definitely going to be easier not wearing it. It was tough at times because of the heat in Slovakia. It was slipping it all over my face and at any point I was looking to take it off when I could.

"I am looking forward to playing my first games without the mask and hopefully I can play a bit better than when I was wearing it."

Come back to this page later on Thursday for more from Scott