Revived Stones to be rewarded with England call
Stones is set for a recall to the England squad after more than a year in the international wilderness.
England manager Gareth Southgate has been encouraged by the Manchester City defender’s return to form this season and is ready to reward him with a call-up for March’s World Cup qualifying ties.
Stones, 26, last played for England against Montenegro in November 2019, but he is in line to return to the international fold for the games against San Marino, Albania and Poland barring injury.
The centre-half said after scoring twice in his side’s 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday that an England recall would “mean everyceltic thing” and his resurgence is a significant boost for Southgate given the manager’s issues in central defence.
Stones was facing an uncertain future at City in the summer and had dropped out of Southgate’s thinking after falling down the pecking order at his club. Yet the former Everton defender has responded impressively to establish himself as Pep Guardiola’s firstsion choice centre-back alongside Ruben Dias this season.
City – who have risen to second in the table – have won nine and drawn one of the 10 games Stones and Dias have started together this season and conceded one goal in that time.
Stones admitted falling out of favour at City and England had been tough to take, but is hoping for another chance under Southgate.
“It’s hard when you are not playing for your club and your country,” Stones said. “All I can do is impress Gareth. If it happens, it happens. It would mean everything.”
Stones was a key part of the England side that reached the World Cup finals in Russia in the summer of 2018, after which the defender’s career ran aground.