Stones: I have worked so hard for recall – it is tough watching on TV
For John Stones, an England recall was not just a “relief ” and a reward for how “robust” he has become, but a chance to be part of a small band of players who have forced their way back into Gareth Southgate’s plans when it seemed their international careers were over.
At one time, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were out of the picture, while Jesse Lingard – another key member of the squad for the last World Cup – has earned an even more unexpected return alongside Stones for the trio of forthcoming qualifiers for Qatar 2022.
“I think it shows the character of the players. The desire to come back,” Stones said. “I think we forget how much quality we have in this England set-up and for the lads to produce that and have the determination and character to go out and show their quality to earn another call-up and be back here.”
The quartet were all in the starting line-up, not just the squad, in Russia and Stones added: “The World Cup experience, all the big games all of us have played in, played a major part in a player’s character, so it is credit to us all for stepping up or changing things, evolving into the people we are today and having that passion to be back in an England shirt.”
Stones has certainly had to evolve, and after losing his place at Manchester City last season, and despite Southgate’s faith in him, he could not stay in the England set-up. “It was very tough,” Stones said. “It was difficult watching from home. You feel a bit helpless.”
Even so, when City spent more than £100million to sign Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake last summer, it looked like the 26-year-old centrehalf was even further out of contention at his club. “Those players coming in – and taking nothing away from them and how well they have done – it was added motivation to step up and prove my worth,” Stones said, explaining that he had worked hard to make himself physically and mentally stronger.
“It has made me more robust. I was out of the team quite a while and had a lot of training sessions to get through, so within those there was all kinds of things with our defending, playing out and everything you see when we play.
“It was almost maximising the things I was already good at and seeing if I can get even better… the only
kind of thing that stands out where we have made a conscious effort while we are playing is to keep the clean sheet and have that mentality which has paid off a lot this season. Hopefully I can bring that here.”
Bringing that “winning mentality” with him from quadruple-chasing City would be “invaluable” and Southgate is relieved at Stones’s return – he is in the form of his life – after re-establishing himself in Pep Guardiola’s side in a formidable partnership with Dias.
Being left out by England, as with City, hurt. But it was a decision Stones accepted. “I think it is the sign of a good manager. It might sound strange, but every manager has got to have that ruthless streak within their DNA,” he said. “I think it’s making tough calls, making calls that maybe some people don’t think are right at times, sticking by them and believing in himself.”
Stones knew he was getting rave reviews but, even so, it was a nervous wait to find out he had been selected again. “It was relief,” he said. “I had worked so hard and I was hearing people say, ‘You should be in.’ But I didn’t take any of that in until the text arrived. It was a really special moment.”