March 27th 2024.
John Stones was forced to leave the game against Belgium after just ten minutes due to a muscle injury. This unfortunate incident has raised concerns about his availability for Manchester City's highly anticipated match against Arsenal. Stones, who is 29 years old, had been one of the few players to play the full 90 minutes in England's recent match against Brazil. He continued his run in the starting lineup against Belgium, but was forced to come off early in the game.
In the match against Belgium, Stones was replaced by Liverpool's Joe Gomez, with Ezri Konsa moving to center-back. Fortunately, England was able to salvage a draw thanks to a goal from Jude Bellingham. However, the focus quickly turned to Stones and the severity of his injury. England manager Gareth Southgate confirmed that Stones had sustained an adductor injury, but the extent of it was still unclear. This news would have surely caused some concern for Stones' club manager, Pep Guardiola, as City prepared for their big match against Arsenal.
Stones had already missed 11 games at the start of the season due to a hip injury, but has since become an integral part of City's squad. As a key player for last year's treble winners, Stones has been instrumental in their success in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. Unfortunately, it seems that Stones may have to sit out the upcoming match against Arsenal, according to reports from The Daily Star.
The report suggests that Stones is unlikely to recover in time for the match, despite undergoing scans in Manchester. This news will come as a big blow for City, as Stones' defensive abilities and versatility have been crucial for them this season. And he is not the only City player facing a race against time to be fit for the match. Kyle Walker, Stones' teammate, also suffered a hamstring injury while playing for England in their first Euro 2024 warm-up match against Brazil. He was replaced early in the game and is also doubtful for the upcoming match.
On the other hand, City can take some comfort in the fact that their star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is expected to return to the squad after missing their last match against Newcastle due to a groin injury. However, Arsenal is also dealing with their own injury concerns, with some key players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Martinelli facing fitness doubts. Despite this, they are hopeful that these players will be available for the match against City.
In addition, there is some uncertainty surrounding the availability of Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who both played in a behind-closed-doors match against QPR last week. Partey, who has been out with a hamstring injury for several months, managed to play for an hour, while Tomiyasu got 45 minutes under his belt as he continues to recover from a muscle issue. As the match between City and Arsenal draws closer, both teams will be hoping for a full squad to choose from as they battle for crucial points in the Premier League.
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