John Stones suffers repeat of earlier injury setback in further blow to Manchester City rearguard

Manchester City have sustained yet more frustration at the back in a season that is continuously being hampered by injury problems throughout the squad.

Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff are having to navigate their biggest challenge to date at the Etihad Stadium amid the worst run of form by far during the Catalan head coach’s reign at Manchester City.

Across the last 13 matches in all competitions, the reigning Premier League champions have managed to win just one game and lose nine of those outings, falling significantly in the English top-flight and UEFA Champions League.

The latest contest saw City held to a 1-1 draw at home to Everton in the Premier League, with Iliman Ndiaye cancelling out Bernardo Silva’s opener, keeping City in seventh position behind the likes of Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.

And as the club prepares to go to battle once again in England’s leading division, Pep Guardiola is likely to have to face further strain in his defensive unit following a fresh injury concern.

As confirmed by the Manchester City manager himself, the club’s once-mainstay central defender, John Stones will take on further recovery at the training centre having sustained a recurrence of a previous injury prior to half-time against Aston Villa earlier this month.

When asked specifically whether Stones’ substitution at the half-time break at Villa Park was a tactical decision, Guardiola responded, “I would say I’m not in the right moment to make tactical and creative changes,” in reference to the club’s torrid 13-game run.

Stones has already missed 11 matches so far this season due to a mixture of a foot problem and muscular issues, adding to other complications regarding some of Manchester City’s most-crucial stars.

A multitude of problems at the back have opened up various opportunities for other players, with Rico Lewis having been handed a consistent starting spot and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey being promoted into high-profile matches for starting berths too.

It remains to be seen just how long Ruben Dias may be ruled out for too, with the Portugal international having sustained a muscular problem during the 1-2 home defeat to Manchester United earlier in December.