Guardiola ponders pushing Stones forward as a holding midfielder

Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, is considering asking John Stones to play as a holding midfielder at times this season.

Stones enjoyed a superb summer playing in the middle of England’s back three at the World Cup and excelled again as Aymeric Laporte’s partner in City’s back four in the Community Shield victory over Chelsea on Sunday.

Guardiola pushed Stones into midfield when he brought on Vincent Kompany for the final 10 minutes at Wembley and was encouraged by his performance. It is understood that Guardiola and his staff have been giving serious thought to using Stones in midfield at stages this season after missing out on signing Jorginho.

Stones has the ability to step out of defence with the ball to build attacks, as he proved by starting the move from which Sergio Aguero scored his second goal against Chelsea, and is seen as the most suited of City’s players to switching between positions.

Guardiola has four central defenders, Stones, Kompany, Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi, fighting for two positions, which gives him the luxury of looking at Stones in midfield when the situation demands or allows it. Asked about the performance of Stones (right) against Chelsea and his options at the back this season, Guardiola said: “John had an excellent World Cup and showed again his personality. I was happy to see him in the last 10 or 15 minutes like a holding midfielder. He maybe can play there.

“John has to know he has to play at a good level because Vincent and Nico are there, and they are going to play. Then they have to play good. In the higher teams, you need this competition.” Gareth Southgate has pondered using Stones as a holding midfielder for England and his assistant, Steve Holland, was at Wembley on Sunday. Holland will also have been impressed by the performance of Phil Foden, but the 18-year-old’s City team-mate, Kyle Walker, has urged Southgate not to fasttrack him into the full England squad just yet. Walker said: “Phil has trained with us all last year. What a talent he is. He is a kid who wants to learn, which is rare these days, because you see a lot of the kids coming through that have got a bit of a chip on their shoulder. It is a pleasure to play with him.”

But asked if it was too early for him to be pushed into the England squad, Walker replied: “I believe so, that’s just my opinion. I think he needs to come through and be nurtured the right way.

“We have seen a lot of people being given the opportunity too early and it kind of swallows them up. So, just let him keep playing football.”