COUNTDOWN TO THE BIG KICK-OFF STICK AND
I’D CONSIDER LIONS ROLE SWAP’
JOHN STONES has admitted he was hurting last season, after feeling he’d let himself and his Manchester City team-mates down in some games.
The 23- year- old England star endured a bumpy ride following his move from Everton and every mistake he made put him in the spotlight as English football’s most expensive defender at £47.5million.
Stones no longer has that heavy tag after Pep Guardiola paid £ 52m for Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy, and a potential £54m for Spurs flying right-back Kyle Walker.
Focused
But he admits the huge transfer fee and his own high standards were a combustible combination that led to heartache.
“People do focus on the transfer fee, but that’s football,” said Stones. “It’s all part of the game, but I’m just focused on getting into the team, playing well and making sure we win.
“If you are as focused and driven as I am, I don’t think the outside influences should have an effect.
“I am not saying that it doesn’t, though. Every player has been there, JOHN STONES is willing to have a conversation with Gareth Southgate about a midfield role with England – even though it’s a foreign position to the centre-back.
Three Lions boss Southgate (left) toyed with the idea of a role switch for Stones in the end-of-season friendly defeat by France in Paris.
In the end, Southgate dropped the idea – but Stones is open to a discussion.
“I remember it coming up during the last England trip,” he said. “It is one of those things that you deal with when it comes.
“I have never played there in a professional game, so it is a difficult question to answer.
“You will play anywhere for your country, but you don’t want to be exposed in a position you’re not familiar with either.
“There are times when any player will play anywhere, if the manager asks you to, but it is whether it will be a regular thing.
“But, if Gareth wants me to play there, we will definitely sit down and talk about it, and go from there.”