John Stones has admitted the season has been difficult for him but he is now feeling back to full fitness.
Stones was a revelation last season as he took on a new role in the City side that was absolutely crucial to the treble triumph.
However, he has been missed this season having once again suffered with injury issues.
A hip problem has been bothering Stones all season and has seen him miss 14 games in total so far.
Thankfully, the ‘Barnsley Beckenbauer’ is feeling back to his best.
John Stones gives an update on his fitness
Stones told Man City: “I feel really good. It’s been really difficult from the start of the season with picking up injuries.
“It’s never easy – that side of the game. I always try to get into a positive mindset and now I’m really happy to be back – feel fit, feel ready for these last few stages of the season and try to give everything to the team as well.”
The importance of John Stones
It’s great news for City that one of their most important players is feeling himself again.
Though Erling Haaland had no trouble in finding the back of the net upon his move from Borussia Dortmund, City did struggle with growing pains from having an all-out striker in the team.
The Blues had got used to, in effect, having an extra midfielder up front who dropped deeper, which allowed for better pressing and build-up play.
Haaland, though, always wants to play on the shoulder of defenders and stretch the back-line, which often left City short in midfield.
It gave Pep Guardiola a problem to solve and he did so in typically ingenious fashion by tasking Stones to move out of defence and into midfield when City had possession.
It’s an extremely complicated role as the £50m man had to play in two positions – one of them being unfamiliar – yet he was fantastic.
Stones’ new role directly led to City’s remarkable upturn in form and a Player of the Match performance in the Champions League final topped it all off.
It’s hard to see City winning the treble if it wasn’t for Stones and who knows what they could achieve this year now he’s back.
