Is John Stones injured? Yeah, he is. Again. The Manchester City defender has a thigh injury that has ruled him out since the start of December. And if you are a City fan, that sentence probably sounds pretty depressingly familiar.
Stones sat out of the 3-0 victory over Sunderland on December 7. Then he missed a Real Madrid Champions League game. Then the Crystal Palace game. And after that the Carabao Cup tie against Brentford on December 16. That is four matches in a little more than a week.
Pep Guardiola has been vague about the whole thing, and that does not help. Asked after the Sunderland game, he simply replied: “He was injured. To be completely honest, I do not know how long he is out.” Cheers for that, Pep.
How Long Is John Stones Injured?
How long is John Stones injured for? Nobody seems properly sure. Assistant manager Kolo Toure said on December 12 that it was a thigh injury which was “not something too big” and that Stones would “be back soon.” But he also conceded that they would not have a clearer picture until the players return from their day off.
The most recent update on December 16 hinted at a potential return for Stones to the matchday squad against West Ham on December 20. That is Saturday. So we are probably two weeks out, plus or minus a few.
It is a minor thigh strain, according to the team. Not a major tear. Not something that needs surgery. One of those niggly ones that just needs a bit of rest. The trouble is, with Stones, these “minor” injuries are an almost regular occurrence.
John Stones Injury History Is Properly Concerning
The John Stones injury history reads like a medical information manual. Just last season, he missed almost 40 games, football club and international duty combined, because of four different injuries. Four. In one season.
This season he has already missed three games because of a muscle injury prior to this latest thigh problem. The bloke is 31 now. John Stones’ age means his body does not bounce back like it did when he was 24.
Look at the pattern. Foot injury. Thigh injury. Muscle problems. Not catastrophic in themselves, but they begin to add up. He plays a few games, gets hurt, misses a couple of weeks; he returns and plays a few more games and then gets injured again. It is tiring even to write about.
Another report at one point even alleged he had done himself an injury while putting up the decorations on his Christmas tree, which sounds mad but also fits rather too neatly with the kind of weird and bizarre injury luck Stones has had lately.
Why Is John Stones Not Playing When He Is Fit?
Here is the thing. Even when he is not injured, why is John Stones not playing as much this season? He has been mainly a bench option for City. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are Guardiola’s first choice centre back pairing now.
Nathan Ake and the new signing Abdukodir Khusanov provide backup. Stones slots in when needed, but he is not automatic anymore. His injuries have not helped, obviously. Hard to nail down a starting spot when you are constantly on the treatment table.
Guardiola values what Stones brings. That ability to drift into midfield from centre back gives City a different tactical dimension. But you cannot rely on a player who misses 40 games a season.
His Future At Manchester City
Is John Stones leaving Man City? He has also recently spoken out about the “dark days” during his long battles with injury at the Etihad. And when questioned about a possible exit, he has been open about how difficult it has been to cope mentally with endless setbacks.
But leaving does not seem imminent. His contract runs until 2026. It is not as if City have booted him through the door. They still value him when he is fit. The question is how often that actually happens.
At 31, with his injury record, finding another top club willing to pay big wages might be tricky anyway. City is probably his best option. They know him, they have got the medical staff to manage him, and they can afford to have him as a squad player rather than expecting 50 games a season. His situation also reflects the broader arc of the sports career of John Stones, which has been shaped as much by fitness issues as by his talent.
His Personal Life
John Stones’ wife is Olivia Naylor. They got married in 2022. They have got a daughter together. Prior to Olivia, Stones dated childhood sweetheart Millie Savage for a long period before they went their separate ways in 2018.
The family side of things seems pretty strong, which must help if you are trying to cope with the frustration of picking up these constant injuries. It matters to have that support system when you are relegated to weeks on the sidelines watching your teammates play.
What Happens Now
City play West Ham on Saturday, December 20. Stones might be back in the squad for that. Might. There is a chance. But given his history, nobody is counting on it until he is actually in the teamsheet.
If he does return, how long before the next injury? That sounds cynical, but it is a fair question given the pattern. City fans probably wince every time Stones goes down during a match, waiting for him to signal to the bench.
The broader issue is whether Stones can actually stay fit enough to contribute meaningfully anymore. He is clearly talented. When he plays, he is still quality. But availability is its own skill, and right now Stones is failing that test badly.
Bottom Line
Is John Stones injured? Yes. Will he be back soon? Probably. Will he stay fit once he is back? That is the £300,000 a week question nobody seems able to answer, especially when you consider John Stones’ salary and how much Manchester City are paying for his availability.
For now, City manage without him. They have got the depth to cope. But for Stones personally, another injury at 31 is another reminder that his body might not hold up much longer at this level. And that has got to be properly disheartening.
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