John Stones has always been a player who sparks strong opinions, a player who can look like a Rolls-Royce of a defender one week and then disappear from the squad sheet the next due to yet another injury. His story at Manchester City has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, of moments of glory followed by long weeks of frustration in the treatment room. And now, in September 2025, that cycle has come back to haunt him once again. During the international break, Stones picked up a muscle injury in training with England. It was not a career-threatening blow, not even a long-term one, but it was enough to force him out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad and send him back to Manchester earlier than planned. The news reached City supporters instantly, and their reaction was as brutal as it was predictable. Many called for him to be sold, their patience worn thin by yet another setback for a player who has missed far too many matches over the past three seasons.
This should have been a fresh chapter for John Stones. He had started all three of Pep Guardiola’s matches this season, settling into a rhythm, finally putting together a consistent run of appearances after a torrid 2024/25 campaign that had seen him miss a staggering 32 games. His selection for the England squad was proof that Tuchel valued his experience and ball-playing qualities. Everything seemed to be aligning for him to enjoy a renaissance. But football rarely follows the script players dream of, and for Stones, another cruel twist was waiting.
The muscle strain that cut short his England involvement is not catastrophic, but the timing could not have been worse. Manchester City are preparing for one of the biggest fixtures of their season, the derby against Manchester United on September 14, and now Guardiola must wait anxiously to see if Stones recovers in time. For fans, though, the injury was the final straw. Their frustration poured onto social media, with many venting that the club could no longer afford to rely on a player so frequently unavailable.
It is not difficult to see why the anger has grown. Stones’ injury record paints a stark picture: 13 matches missed in 2022/23, 10 in 2023/24, and an astonishing 32 last season. That is more than 50 competitive fixtures missed in just three years. For a club like Manchester City, who compete on four fronts every season, that level of absence from a senior defender is damaging. Supporters want reliability, and in Stones, they feel they no longer have it.
Yet in the face of criticism, Stones chose positivity. After England’s thumping 5-0 win over Serbia — a match he had been unable to feature in — the defender posted on Instagram. His message was short and simple: “Brilliant the boys!” accompanied by applause emojis. Just three words, but they revealed much about his mindset. Instead of sulking, instead of wallowing in the misery of another injury, Stones celebrated his teammates’ success. It was his way of reminding fans that his commitment to the team, whether at club or country level, has never wavered.
England’s victory had plenty of highlights. Harry Kane scored his 74th international goal, cementing his status as one of the nation’s greatest ever strikers. Young stars Noni Madueke and Ezri Konsa found the net, while Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford also got on the scoresheet. It was a statement win for Tuchel’s team, continuing their flawless run in World Cup qualifying. For Stones, though, it was bittersweet — he was proud of his teammates, but the pain of missing out must have cut deep.
Back in Manchester, Guardiola now faces difficult questions. Stones has been central to his tactical system in the past, especially when Guardiola pioneered the idea of defenders stepping into midfield. During City’s treble-winning season, Stones was crucial in that hybrid role. His intelligence, passing range, and calmness under pressure allowed City to dominate games. But Guardiola is also a pragmatist, and he knows that availability is as important as ability. If he cannot trust Stones to stay fit, then reinforcements become a necessity.
That is why City are now being strongly linked with a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. The 24-year-old has developed into one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders, a leader at Selhurst Park and now a regular in the England squad. Liverpool tried to sign him before the transfer window closed, but Palace manager Oliver Glasner blocked the move, threatening to resign if he lost his captain at the final moment. With Guehi’s contract entering its final year, however, the writing seems to be on the wall. Palace know they risk losing him for free next summer, and City are ready to swoop.
If Guardiola does bring in another defender, where does that leave Stones? At 31, he is not finished, but the constant cycle of injury and recovery has clearly eroded the trust of the fanbase. Even during the summer, whispers of a potential exit circulated. Now, with another setback, those whispers will only grow louder. It feels as though he is standing at a crossroads in his career: fight back once more, prove his durability, and remind everyone of his quality, or accept that his time at City may be nearing its end.
For the supporters who called for him to be sold, their anger is born not out of disrespect but out of frustration. Stones has given City plenty over the years: Premier League titles, Champions League glory, memorable performances in massive games. But football fans live in the present, and in the present, they see a defender who is rarely available when needed most. They see a derby on the horizon against Manchester United and wonder if they can rely on him.
And yet, there is another perspective — one that sees Stones as a fighter, a player who has overcome criticism before. When he first arrived from Everton, many mocked his errors and labelled him a liability. But under Guardiola’s guidance, he reinvented himself, silenced the doubters, and became a cornerstone of one of the greatest teams English football has ever seen. Could he do it again? Could he silence the current wave of criticism with another comeback? That is the question only time will answer.
The derby against United looms as a symbolic moment. If Stones recovers and plays, it could be the platform he needs to shift the narrative. A commanding performance at Old Trafford or the Etihad against their bitter rivals would remind everyone why he is worth the patience. But if he misses out, the frustration will only intensify, and the talk of Guehi or another signing will grow louder.
What is undeniable is that John Stones’ Manchester City journey has reached a defining point. His three-word message — “Brilliant the boys!” — may have seemed simple, but in many ways, it summed up his situation. He is proud, supportive, and positive, but he is also on the outside looking in, watching others take the spotlight while he battles his body yet again.
For Guardiola, for City, and for Stones himself, the next few weeks could shape the rest of his career. Will he write another chapter of resilience, or will this be remembered as the beginning of the end of his time at the Etihad? One thing is certain: the conversation around John Stones is far from over, and as long as injuries continue to shadow him, the debate about his future will rage on
