Joe Hart has noticed something unusual about John Stones at Manchester City throughout the opening phase of the 2025/26 campaign.
Last season was a disaster for the centre-back as he struggled with injuries, but the first three games indicated that Pep Guardiola still regards the 31-year-old highly at Man City, despite having a year left on his contract.
Troy Deeney believes Stones is motivated by the World Cup next summer, and it certainly looked like that during the first weekend of the season, as the Englishman impressed away at Wolves.
Hart believes Stones was asked to do something a lot different by Guardiola during the first three games of the season, with the former Man City goalkeeper admitting that he was impressed by the defender.
Unusual to see John Stones as a proper centre-back
Before Stones picked up his recent injury, the Englishman was deployed at centre-back and asked to hold position and take charge of Man City’s high line.
This was unusual for the 31-year-old, as he has often left his centre-back role to move into midfield, but Hart thinks the defender impressed in his new role.
“I remember when John Stones was starting the season, and he was actually very dominant as a centre-half partner, which isn’t like John,” Hart said on Football Daily’s Monday Night Club with Mark Chapman.
“John usually fits in and just plays a lovely, flowing game of football. But those first couple of games, they were really trying to push that line noticeably.
“Against Wolves, they nailed it. They caught them offside on many occasions. And then against Tottenham, it wasn’t as smooth as the goal down the right-hand side came from it.
“John ended up slipping. And then the goal at Brighton as well, trying to push that line. So he’s addressed that.”
Carragher could not believe how high Man City’s line was against Wolves, but with the Manchester club being more defensive over the last few days, this might not be a good thing for Stones’ chances of getting into the team.
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How John Stones will be used this season at Man City
Stones is expected to start on Wednesday night against Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup, and it is these contests where the centre-back will become useful.
Guardiola will likely use the 31-year-old in games City are expected to win, have more possession of the ball, and where they will deploy their high line to catch opponents offside.
This suits the England star’s skillset, and it will allow the defender to work his way back into Man City’s team because, at present, Stones has no place in Guardiola’s starting XI.
