Gary Neville has lauded the transformation of John Stones in a Manchester City shirt this season.
The £47.5 million (Sky Sports) man has showcased his tactical versatility this campaign, operating in central midfield in possession from both right-back and centre-back.
Gary Neville has been taken aback by John Stones’ malleability for Manchester City, as he has had yet another cracking campaign.
Gary Neville raves about Manchester City defender John Stones
Branded as ‘unbelievable’ this season by Kolo Toure, the Englishman continues to prove why he may be the most complete defender in world football.
Not only is Stones just inverting into midfield but is actually taking up different positions further forward, breaking the lines, carrying the ball whilst stick being perfectly positioned to defend in a back four.
As Jamie Carragher picked Kyle Walker over Gary Neville in his combined XI from the current Manchester City side and the treble-winning Manchester United team, John Stones’ name came up.
“Put him back in, go on! He’s had a bad night!”, Carragher initially said.
“You don’t have to put me back in. Do you know something? I thought you might have put John Stones in, to be fair. The way he is playing for City at right-back going into midfield, he’s been unbelievable!”, Gary Neville replied about Manchester City mainstay John Stones.
“John Stones has transformed this season.”
MCN View: John Stones remains criminally underrated
Sure, during the first couple of years during his time at the Etihad Stadium, injuries and howlers at the back did not help Stones’ case.
While Gary Neville is right in praising the ‘Barnsley Beckenbauer’ this season, he has been exceptional for Manchester City for a number of years.
The 28-year-old was a regular starter in the legendary ‘Centurions’ side, while for the last three seasons in particular, he may well have emerged as the Sky Blues’ finest centre-back.
With Stones having been excellent for England over the years as well, it is a mystery why he is not viewed as an elite centre-half worldwide and rarely gets his due credit.
