STONES PEP DEBT

JOHN STONES has gone from forgotten man to main man thanks to his Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Stones, 24, made the standby list for the last World Cup, did not play a minute at Euro 2016 but looks irreplaceable in Gareth Southgate’s plans now.

He was the only player to start both warm-up friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica and is set to be the central figure in England’s three-man defence.

And Stones (right) says Guardiola has offered to be on call 24 hours a day during the World Cup.

The England centre-half stressed his emergence is down to Guardiola’s influence rather than age or maturity, insisting: “Mostly Pep!

Definitely Pep, the players I’m playing with at club level, and obviously becoming more mature, knowing myself and knowing the game better.

“The thing for me is how he has made everything so simple and taken my footballing brain to another level. “Everyone thinks they know football and different systems but when I turned up at City and trained with him it was like a new door opening that I never thought would be there.

“Everything seemed to click and everything is so simple. Simplicity is key.

“He’s very open. I know I can call him or text him whenever – 24 hours a day – he’s always said that, which is brilliant of him. Even if it is not football-related.”