JOHN STONES has returned to training with Manchester City this week – and is in line to make a timely return at Crystal Palace tomorrow.
But Etihad chief Pep Guardiola is unlikely to think that all his defensive worries will suddenly be solved.
The England defender, 25, has started only FOUR competitive matches for the champions since March 2.
Stones – a £47 million signing from Everton three years ago – lost his place in the team last season and has also suffered with injuries.
His last appearance was the disastrous 3-2 defeat at Norwich last month – and just three days later he suffered a thigh problem in training.
How Guardiola could do with Stones to return to the fold and be back to his best in the next few weeks.
His makeshift back four was creaking as Wolves claimed a surprising – but deserved – 2-0 win at the Etihad before the international break.
All was going smoothly for Stones until he was substituted after getting injured early in the second half during City’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth in early March.
Since then his fitness and form have been a concern for City – as well as Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
The former Everton defender lost his place to veteran former skipper Vincent Kompany towards the end of last season.
As City got to the business end in three different competitions, Guardiola preferred the Belgian and Aymeric Laporte.
Then came his nightmare evening for the Three Lions as they crashed out of the Nations League to Holland in June.
Four months on and the landscape at the Etihad is very different.
Kompany has left to begin his management career back in Belgium while Laporte has a cruciate knee injury and is out until January at the earliest.
That left Guardiola with just one senior centre back – Nicolas Otamendi, who City would have allowed to leave in the summer had the right offer come in.
Fernandinho – who the manager has always believed would be a good centre back – was shifted to that position as cover.
Between them, they did OK – until the last Sunday before the international break when Wolves were the visitors.
Stones and Otamendi have never looked particularly convincing as a partnership – and it may be that Fernandinho continues in his new role.
