Starring role for Stones
from JEREMY CROSS JOHN STONES has revealed how World Cup rival Vincent Kompany turned him into a video star.
Stones has established himself as the rock in the middle of England’s three-man defence.
The Manchester City ace has become one of Gareth Southgate’s most influential players and is being tipped to be a future captain.
And he hopes to line up against his club skipper – if Kompany is fit – when England face Belgium in their final Group G game in Kaliningrad next Thursday.
Stones has revealed how Kompany helped make him the player he is today, with some one-to-one sessions studying footage of his performances.
He said: “Vinnie is a class act. He was injured in my first season, and this season obviously, but he got some clips he wanted to help me out with. We sat down together and he wanted to give his advice and opinion.
“For someone to do that and try to help me as a young player, it says a lot about the person.
“I look up to him as a captain and a friend.
“We could have just gone about our day normally, said hello and gone for dinner at the training ground.
“But he thought about the game and wanted to show me these clips one on one.
“He’s a born winner. I want to be a winner and try to learn that off him. The more I play and train with him, the more it should rub off.”