Manchester City fans have been reacting to the big news that one of their key players has picked up an injury on international duty.
After a poor start to the season, several of Manchester City’s stars have travelled away with their countries, looking to use the matches to gain some confidence, form, and fitness ahead of a return to Premier League action on September 14 against Manchester United.
Man City fans were not impressed with Jeremy Doku’s display for Belgium on Thursday night, while the Dutch media did not think Tijjani Reijnders stood out for the Netherlands against Poland.
It has now emerged that one of Man City’s key players has left their international game with an injury, and fans of the Manchester club have mixed feelings about the news.
Man City fans have mixed feelings about John Stones’ latest injury
Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Friday that John Stones has left the England camp with a minor injury after showing up to international duty with the issue.
“Unfortunately, John Stones has just left. He came with minor muscle issues to camp, and didn’t progress how we thought and hoped. He left camp this morning because we will not take the risk,” Tuchel told the press about the defender’s situation.
Having trained with England during the week, this decision seems to be a precaution from all involved, and Man City fans are delighted about the news, as it means the £47m centre-back should be fit and ready to play in the Manchester derby.
One City supporter responded to the news on X (formerly known as Twitter) by saying: “Better to rest him than risk a bigger issue.”
A second Man City fan added: “This is better because we have Man United, Napoli, and Arsenal in a row, bro. Nice option.”
Other supporters of the Manchester club were more concerned given Stones’ injury history, with one posting: “Knowing Mr Stones, he will be out for three months minimum. There is absolutely nothing minor about a John Stones injury, I am sick in the stomach.”
While a final Man City fan even called for Stones to leave during the next transfer window: “Make him give up the England shirt or leave in January. This is not a situation that can keep happening. It’s almost comical at this point. Enough.”
John Stones’ injury record at Man City
Harry Maguire is one of many who rate John Stones very highly as a defender; however, the centre-back’s career has been plagued by injuries.
Throughout the 2024/25 season, the 31-year-old missed a total of 32 matches due to hamstring and foot injuries. He missed 10 during the 2023/24 season with a hip issue and 13 the term before that with hamstring issues.
Stones’ concerns with fitness at the Etihad Stadium go back even further than this, but that shows how unreliable the defender has been in remaining fit for Pep Guardiola.
The England star is one of the best centre-backs in the world on his day, but these injury problems have stopped him from getting the recognition he deserves outside of Man City fans.
The start of the current season has been positive for Stones after not playing a single minute for Man City at the FIFA Club World Cup, and fans of the Manchester club will be hoping that his decision to leave the England camp was just a precaution.
