Manchester City Delay Decision On John Stones’ Future Due To Fitness Concerns

John Stones’s Manchester City early will beryllium reliant connected nan defender’s fitness, according to Pep Guardiola. The England international’s statement expires successful nan summertime and nan nine must determine if he deserves an hold aft an injury-hit spell astatine nan Etihad Stadium.

The 31-year-old precocious said he contemplated status past season owed to fittingness problems, which resulted successful him making only 11 Premier League appearances and missing nan last 3 months of nan run pinch a hamstring injury. Stones was an unused substitute for City’s past 2 convention matches but will dream to return to nan starting lineup against erstwhile nine Everton connected Saturday, having featured doubly for England during nan world break.

“The nine will determine what is champion for John, we will spot really he performs,” Guardiola said. “When John is fit, he is portion of nan group, nan starting XI and nan twelvemonth of nan treble [he] was unbelievable but since past he has not had nan consistency successful [number of] games. He’s been injured galore times truthful that is why we person to hold and see.”

Guardiola has antecedently said he needs players who are tin of featuring 3 times a week, which was 1 logic down Kevin De Bruyne being allowed to depart successful nan summer. Asked if Stones’ wounded problems are down him, Guardiola said: “I dream so. I’m happy that he’s backmost [with England] and nan assurance from Thomas [Tuchel] to him. There’s nary doubts astir his imaginable and his quality. I’m happy he played pinch his country.”

Guardiola will beryllium without Rodri connected Saturday, nan midfielder is sidelined aft sustaining an wounded at Brentford, but could person Rayan Aït-Nouri and Omar Marmoush disposable again. Stones will not look his erstwhile City teammate Jack Grealish, who is connected indebtedness astatine Everton and is incapable to play against his genitor club.

City person nan in-form Erling Haaland, who has scored 12 goals successful 9 games for his nine this season. Would Guardiola beryllium assured of uncovering a measurement to extremity him? “Yeah, of course. Four cardinal defenders,” he joked. “I had nan pleasance to look him erstwhile he was successful Dortmund and hopefully I’m not going to look him again nan remainder of my life.

“He’s a top-class player; successful world football, location are four, five, six, 10 players that are unbelievable. They make a difference. Erling is 1 of them. I will person him, hopefully, for galore years and I’m really pleased for that.”