John Stones nearing Manchester City return after ‘difficult’ two years | OneFootball

John Stones says he is confident that he has put a “difficult” two-year period at Manchester City behind him.

The defender only made six Premier League starts for City last season and has not played a single minute since the loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League in February.

Stones says that the injuries have taken a toll on him mentally throughout the last two seasons but he is excited to be back involved with his team at the Club World Cup.

“It’s difficult when you’re injured, you almost work longer and more, so from that aspect I know the guys mentally and physically have had such a long season,” he said. I suppose mentally for me it’s been difficult dealing with the injuries and the process.

“But now I’ve put that behind me and used this as a mini introduction back before the new season and another trophy for us to hopefully win and get some game time.

“I’ve been back in training a few weeks now and that’s been going great, trying to do extra running if I need to, if I need to try and get those levels up. Just those little, really small details have made such a big difference.

“I’m super excited and hopefully can implement these little things that we’ve made and tweaked, which are going to better me for the future.”

Over the past two campaigns, the England international has suffered numerous different injury problems and admits that it was easy to doubt himself during that period.

“I think we all self doubt as players and feel things, and we want to get back as quick as possible,” he said. Maybe that’s a downfall sometimes that you try and push too soon.”

Stones explained how he tried to deal with not playing: “Definitely family help, I think that’s my biggest thing, being around them and having their support.

“You can feel very lonely at times when you’re training by yourself and that’s the difficult part of it, being in a team sport, not training with the team when you run out on the pitch in your rehab.”

Stones has been a big part of Manchester City’s most successful ever period, which has included six Premier League titles and a Champions League, and says he he still wants to keep fighting to achieve more.

“There’s 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,” he said.

“I was a fighter from a young age, in difficult moments, you have to look at the bigger picture and realise what are your morals, what you believe in, and fight to make it worthwhile.”