John Stones says he is thankful to England manager Gareth Southgate for keeping faith with him during a difficult end to the season.
England are preparing for Sunday's penultimate Group G match against Panama, with Stones expected to start in Nizhny Novgorod following the backing from his national team boss.
"I spoke to Gareth," he said. "I got a lot of little injuries and things that weren't said out in public. That's why I wasn't in the squad as much.
"I wanted to make sure I was right to fight for my spot at City and I never took my spot for granted in the England team. Never will, or ever think like that.
"I knew I had to fight right until the end, even though some people may say different.
"Gareth's shown a lot of faith in me. I can't express enough how thankful I am for that.
"Sometimes you're in difficult spots as players where form's not right and he's got a difficult decision to make whether 'should I play him or not'.
"He knows us well enough by now, our characters, individually they're all different, it's down to him."
The Manchester City defender also praised team-mate Vincent Kompany, whose Belgium side face England on June 28, for helping him when he joined the club.
Stones added: "I remember Vinnie was injured in my first season, and this season obviously, but he got some clips that he wanted to help me out with.
"We got some clips, sat down together and he wanted to give his advice and opinion on these actions. For someone to do that and try to help me as a young player, it says a lot about the person.
"I look up to him as a captain and a friend because of the things he has done for me in the last two years."