PATIENT STONES SHINING
I HAVE been a big fan of John Stones for a long time.
Ironically, when Liverpool were crying out for a centrehalf, I said I would take John all day long.
I thought he was maybe someone who would suit the Liverpool way of playing.
This was when it appeared his days at Manchester City were numbered.
Then all of a sudden he was back in Pep Guardiola’s side and, fair play to the lad, it looks like he’s never been away.
He must have felt at times he was surplus to requirements, but now Stones and Ruben Dias have been absolute monsters at the heart of the City defence.
What I really like about him is that he has obviously gone through a traumatic period at the Etihad, but he has never thrown in the towel.
That had been in complete contrast to his great start to a career where he had won loads of things with Manchester City after leaving Everton.
Deep down at times he must have thought he would have to leave City.
I don’t know some of the conversations he would have had with the coaching staff at the club during his dark periods, but I can guarantee they wouldn’t have been nice.
He has waited for a chance to show everyone what he is still capable of and regained his place in the team.
I’m not at all surprised because I had liked what I had seen from him before this second coming.
His call-up by England has proved that all the hard work and a refusal to be written off has worked.
At the same time, he has saved Manchester City around £60million.
Because they haven’t had to go out and buy another top centre-half.