LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Manchester City’s woes have deepened with another injury setback, this time involving John Stones, following the loss of Kevin De Bruyne.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the English defender will remain sidelined until after the upcoming international break in September.
This rules out Stones’ availability for England’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and a friendly match against Scotland.
Stones continues to struggle with a muscle problem he picked up during pre-season. As a result, he has been absent from the squad during Premier League victories over Burnley and Newcastle, as well as the UEFA Super Cup penalty shootout win against Sevilla.
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Guardiola provided an update on the team’s fitness, underscoring the importance of having everyone ready for the demanding schedule.
With Belgian midfielder De Bruyne already having undergone surgery for a hamstring injury, Guardiola stated, “We will need everyone for this schedule and calendar. We have to approach it as the fans do. Stones won’t be fit until after the international break.“
The forthcoming international break is scheduled from September 4 to 12, which means that Stones will miss matches against Sheffield United and Fulham.
Given that the transfer window remains open, City has the option to seek reinforcements. Guardiola added, “The club will need to make some significant decisions regarding the squad.“