Stones will return after Pep’s talk
PEP GUARDIOLA says he has not lost faith in John Stones and won’t be buying another central defender in January.
Stones was dropped for Manchester City’s last two games after a number of high-profile mistakes since his £47m summer move from Everton.
And City’s defensive problems have fuelled speculation that Guardiola will buy a new centre-back with Southampton’s Virgil van Dyke linked with a move to the Etihad.
But Guardiola said: “Van Dyke? He’s not going to come here next month. It’s impossible because he’s a Southampton player and we don’t want him now.
“If you ask me today about signings then no. Maybe next week if we realise we need something special in one position to keep one more player in that position, especially in the full-backs then maybe. But in the other positions we are quite happy.”
City looked far more secure without Stones in the wins against Watford and Arsenal when Guardiola reverted to an orthodox back four and they conceded only one goal.
But the City boss says the 22-year-old simply needed a breather after a hectic start to life at City, adding: “It’s the first time in his career he played every three days. He has never played before in the Champions League. Every three days you have to be focused. And he had played a lot.
“If I didn’t have confidence in him he would not have played the games he played.
“I know people think if a player doesn’t play it is because the coach doesn’t trust him any more. That is not the truth.”
Hull manager Mike Phelan admits he wants to work quickly in the January transfer window but first needs some points.
He said: “We need a win. We have to get better and we have to keep reinforcing that to the players.
“We’re halfway into the season. It’s been mediocre. We had a good start.
“We haven’t gained an advantage since then but we haven’t lost an advantage either as there are quite a few teams in that area.
“You could gain three or six points very quickly to put you in a very different position come January.”