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Hripsime Hayrapetyan

18-11-2019 | 17:20 Football
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John Stones given seven months to prove he is invaluable to Manchester City

Manchester City defender John Stone has seven months to prove he is invaluable to the club before Aymeric Laporte's return. In 2017/18 season Stones had 11 appearances from 12 Premier League games, but started just three of the final 12 league games after suffering a hamstring injury in November. The similar story was last season when the defender started just three of the club's final 19 games in all competitions, having played 21 of the Blues' 30 games before Christmas. This year the England international was at the center of the attention as the Citizens began life without Vincent Kompany. When the 25-year-old was expected to form a partnership with Laporte, the latter picked up a knee injury during Brighton clash and is out since August. Stones has injury issues of his own and needs to show he is good enough to be one of the most reliable defenders of the club boss Pep Guardiola. City boss got frustrated when Stones wasn't immediately ready for the Champions League win over Atalanta. Guardiola also couldn't guarantee the player as a first choice center back, urging him to concentrate on maintaining his fitness. The club boss told: “It’s not about first choice, there are not a lot of first choices. It’s about being fit, so for a long time he’s had many many injuries. When he came back last season Vinny and Laporte were in incredible top form, and always at that part of the season you want to give them regularity, the central defenders. This season, injury after injury, sometimes it needs more time.” Stones returned to game for England's 7 - 0 win over Montenegro, but stayed on the bench again during the Kosovo clash as the country attempt to manage his fitness.
Source: MEN

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