Injury made Stones ‘think about retiring’ last season

John Stones, a defender for England and Manchester City, claims that injury-related issues made him think about retiring last year.

Due to foot and hamstring issues, Stones made just 11 Premier League appearances last year, which came to an end in February.

The 31-year-old has played for England at five major tournaments, but he hasn’t since October 2024 when Thomas Tuchel became the club’s manager in January.

Stones will be in the squad for the World Cup qualifier against Latvia on October 14 (both 19:45 BST) and the friendly against Wales on Thursday at Wembley.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the next summer’s World Cup finals in Riga if England triumphs there.

Stones remarked to BBC Radio 5 Live, “Last season was tough for me, to the point where I considered stopping.”

“I didn’t want to do it,” he said. I had enough of being so successful and making an effort to do everything in my power before giving up and not finding the solutions. It was very challenging to be in.

Stones, who he joined from Everton in 2016, was unable to make more than 27 appearances in a single league game for City.

There comes a point where you can’t figure out why something happens and it gets even more difficult when you put in the effort or are extremely professional to play and be present, Stones continued.

It would be simpler to say, “Well, I didn’t do X, Y, and Z that’s why,” but when it does, it becomes mentally challenging when it occurs and something happens. I’m hoping I won’t return to that location.

Although Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola appears to favor a centre-back pairing of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, Stones has started five games this season.

“I had high emotions. I wasn’t having a straight thought. I don’t believe I ever [retired] would have done it,” Stones said.

I once said, “I am going to fight,” when City wanted me to face a new challenge. Why should I stop knowing that since I was a child and that’s all I’ve known?

Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Jack Grealish were left out of Tuchel’s England squad, according to Tuchel’s statement last week.

However, Stones’ commitment to Tuchel was made clear in June when the squad was asked to travel to Spain for a warm-weather training camp despite being injured.

It’s difficult to describe my love for England, in my opinion. Stones said, “I love England so much, I love playing for England.”

“I’ve had some of the best experiences in my career playing for England] and in] tournaments. It was a no-brainer when Tuchel [he] said, “Will I come out and be with the guys and continue my training?”

“I wanted to be there and be around the guys,” he said. He persuaded it from a variety of perspectives. He was aware that I was lonely training alone, in a difficult situation, and that I hadn’t been around the team.

“As well as being a presence, a voice to speak to, and a vent for the younger guys. Knowing that a person who is unfit will join a team and what England has and has created over the years shows a lot to the young players that are joining the squad.

It was a special moment for me to come in and show my face, offer advice, and be a good team-mate.

Anthony Gordon has impressed under Tuchel at Newcastle’s left-wing position, but he believes he has not performed as well as he did when playing for the national team.

On BBC Radio 5 Live, he said, “I believe I was probably at 50% in an England shirt.” “I can’t get anywhere near where I can.” But each time I play, I feel more at ease.

I’m eager to give that performance a chance more often. I probably ought to have performed those songs a little earlier. I wanted to continue playing well in Serbia and I did.