Manchester City and England defender John Stones has opened up about his struggle with injury woes, revealing that he had doubts over whether he would resume his career over the past two years. With only six starts in the Premier League for the 2024-25 season due to a succession of injury setbacks, including thigh and foot issues, it’s been a troubling period for the 31-year-old centre-back.
These complications came on the heels of a two-month absence at the start of the previous season owing to a hip injury, hindering his ability to build upon a stellar 2022-23 season where he played a key role in City’s treble-winning campaign.
Reflecting on the difficult times, John Stones said: “Yes, there have been points where you think: you’ve been giving all this effort, you dedicate all your life, especially how I approach or go about my life and football, I give everything on and off the pitch to be here or be ready to play games and… those are the dark days. I think everyone’s been through them and thinks, ‘Why is this happening?’ You wish it would go a different path. It’s self-doubt, a lot of things. It is frustrating for me. I put a lot of pressure on myself. I find it very challenging mentally. I have had some very low points in the past season. I just have to (try to) come back but, once you come over those things, you can’t really see the end of the tunnel when they keep happening. All of us have been through different upbringings and challenges through life and what did we do within those situations – was it fight or was it give up?
“I was a fighter from a young age. In difficult moments, you have to look at the bigger picture and realise what your morals are, what you believe in, and fight to make it worthwhile.”
Having fought back to peak condition, John Stones is eager to play a significant role for City in their pursuit of glory at the Club World Cup held in the United States. The centre-back hasn’t played since early February after being replaced against Real Madrid, lasting only eight minutes before an injury struck.
Although he remained on the bench for City’s tournament opener with Wydad AC, Stones has expressed his desire to play against Al-Ain in the early hours of Monday morning. “I feel great, I’m back fit and ready to help the team when called upon. I’m excited to get going,” John Stones added. “Mentally it’s been difficult dealing with the injuries and the process, but now I’ve put that behind me. I’ve been back in training a few weeks now and that’s been going great. I’m super excited.”
Manager Pep Guardiola has welcomed Stones’ return to fitness, planning a careful reintroduction to playing duties. The City boss said: “Him playing football, I want that. We have been together for almost one decade and he’s an incredible human being. But the important thing now is at training sessions, he feels better. Games are another issue, another rhythm.”
