Manchester City have been rocked by news of a season-ending injury for midfielder Rodri.
The club confirmed last week that their Spanish maestro has damaged knee ligaments and the suggestion is that we will not be seeing him again in 2024/25, with reports suggesting he suffered a tear.
It is a hammer blow for City, with Rodri having obviously established himself as an integral player over the last few years.
The star has been tipped as a potential Ballon d’Or winner next month he’s been that good, and Pep Guardiola is now tasked with trying to cover his absence.
Many suggestions have already been made.
The obvious replacement in the short-term is Mateo Kovacic, who played really well in the first couple of games in 2024/25 when Rodri was unavailable.
But for pundit Robbie Earle, Rodri’s injury could now mean 2024/25 could be a really interesting season for one Man City player in particular.
Robbie Earle suggests John Stones could now get midfield minutes after Rodri injury
City are losing so much in midfield due to Rodri’s injury.
The 28-year-old is a master at dictating games with his constant availability and passing range. He also provides superb protection for the back four.
What’s more, Rodri actually also provides an attacking threat, both from open play and from set-pieces.
He is a gigantic loss – but his time on the sidelines could now hand more chances to John Stones according to Robbie Earle.
The former midfielder said on a new The 2 Robbies Podcast episode: “It could be an interesting season for John Stones.
“Everyone’s talking about Kovacic and obviously Gundogan’s back. John Stones is versatile, he’s a good footballer, he’s got good defensive responsibility, playing in front of that back four, he knows those spaces well that Pep likes.
“I just wonder if he might have a big role to play, certainly in some of the big games, when City will feel they want to have control of the game and not get overrun in midfield.”
Last week, ex-City defender Stuart Pearce also suggested Stones as possible cover for Rodri.
Jamie Carragher has also floated the idea Pep could turn to Stones in midfield.
Stones in midfield areas is inevitable
City losing Rodri to a long-term injury is awful news, but Pep may well find a decent solution in the form of Stones.
We have never really seen him playing as an out-and-out holding midfielder, certainly as a single pivot. It is probably still unlikely we will see that specifically. But you never know – Pep may already be training him in that role Rodri performs so brilliantly.
Something that is probably inevitable though is £250,000-a-week star Stones pushing into midfield from the back in a hybrid role, which is something City fans have seen many times.
It could well be that Pep sees Kovacic as the main man, but with Stones pushing forward to support the Croatian.
As Earle suggests, Stones is a great technician and also has great physicality. So it just seems natural for him to pick up positions in midfield after the injury to Rodri.
