During Englandβs friendly against Belgium at Wembley, John Stones suffered an injury, forcing him to exit the game during the first half. The defender’s discomfort became apparent within the first ten minutes of play, as he was seen clutching his right leg after making a few passes. This setback comes at a critical juncture for Manchester City, who face Arsenal in a pivotal Premier League clash on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola faces mounting concerns ahead of the weekend fixture, compounded by Kyle Walker’s substitution in England’s recent loss to Brazil. While Walker’s injury seems minor, the withdrawal of Manuel Akanji from Switzerland’s match against Ireland, along with the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish from international duty, heightens City’s apprehensions about the fitness of key players. However, both De Bruyne and Grealish are expected to recover in time for the weekend showdown.
Stones’ potential absence is particularly worrisome considering his previous spells on the sidelines due to injury this season. The 29-year-old’s contributions are indispensable both for his club and the national team.
Ahead of the Arsenal encounter, City’s players are set to regroup at the club on Thursday, providing Guardiola with an opportunity to assess their fitness levels. Erling Haaland revealed Guardiola’s earlier advice to his players about managing their workload amidst a hectic schedule, albeit lightheartedly warning them that he would “come after them” if they sustained injuries during this period.
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What stuff is this? Your caption talks of Romelu Lukaku but the inside stuff is about the woes of Manchester City. This is total confusion.