John Stones Reflects on Injury Struggles and Commitment to England
John Stones, defender for England and Manchester City, revealed that he contemplated retirement last season due to persistent injuries.
Stones managed only 11 appearances in the Premier League last season, grappling with foot and hamstring injuries, the latter of which prematurely ended his season in February.
At 31, Stones has represented England at five major tournaments but has not played for the national team since October 2024, following Thomas Tuchel's appointment as manager in January.
Stones is included in the squad for Thursday's friendly against Wales at Wembley and the World Cup qualifier against Latvia on Tuesday, October 14 (both at 19:45 BST).
A win in Riga will secure England's spot in next summer's World Cup finals, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“Last season was tough for me; I even considered stopping,” Stones shared with BBC Radio 5 Live. “I didn’t want to give up. I was frustrated after trying to be as professional as possible, only to keep facing injuries without clear answers. It was a challenging time.”
Injuries have hindered Stones from exceeding 27 appearances in a single league season since he joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016.
“There comes a point where you lose understanding of why it happens. It’s even more challenging when you put in so much effort to be available,” he continued. “When injuries strike, it’s mentally taxing. I hope I don’t revert to that dark place.”
This season, Stones has made five starts, but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola seems to prefer a center-back pairing of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
“My emotions were high, and I wasn’t thinking clearly. Deep down, I don’t think I would have actually retired,” Stones reflected. “Years ago, when City wanted me to take on a new challenge, I committed to fighting. That’s all I’ve known since childhood—why would I stop now?”
Stones emphasized his fighting spirit and determination to succeed.
Last week, Tuchel stated that no player is guaranteed a spot in his England squad, leaving out notable players such as Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Jack Grealish.
However, Stones' importance to Tuchel was evident in June when he was invited to join the squad in Spain for a warm-weather training camp, despite his injury.
“My love for England is hard to express. I cherish playing for my country,” Stones said. “When he asked me to join the training, it was an easy decision. I wanted to be around the team. He recognized my solitude in training alone and the challenges I faced.”
“Being present, offering support, and being a sounding board for younger players was significant. My willingness to join the team, despite my fitness, demonstrated a lot to the newcomers about what England represents.”
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon has also made an impression on the left wing under Tuchel but feels he has yet to reach his full potential in national colors.
“I believe I’ve only been at 50% when playing for England. I’m eager to perform consistently at a higher level,” he expressed on BBC Radio 5 Live. “I felt good in Serbia, and I’m looking to build on that.”
Gordon was not surprised by Tuchel’s decision to maintain the same squad from September, describing it as “the best camp I’ve been part of in terms of the atmosphere, where everything clicked both on and off the pitch.”