Gareth Southgate ‘reassurance’ helped John Stones through difficult period

England v Denmark – UEFA Euro 2020 – Semi Final – Wembley Stadium
(Image credit: Mike Egerton)

John Stones played more for England than Manchester City during a challenging start to the season he overcame with the help of reassurance from Gareth Southgate.

The Three Lions boss has largely stuck with the group that reached the Euro 2020 final for the autumn World Cup qualifiers, despite questions over some players’ form and game time.

Stones has been one of the main names in the latter bracket as Pep Guardiola trusted City’s other centre-backs during an injury-interrupted start to the campaign for the England international.

The 27-year-old won four England caps across two international camps despite not playing a minute at club level, but the defender has turned a corner in the last month.

John Stones only made his first City appearance of the season last month

John Stones only made his first City appearance of the season last month (Martin Rickett/PA)

“I feel really good,” Stones said, having started as City won 2-0 at rivals Manchester United on Saturday.

“I knew I had to be patient from the start of the season with two really annoying injuries that came at a bad time in the respect of me coming back.

“Both times I think we had a game on a Wednesday and then I was ready on a Thursday to train again, then we have a game on a Saturday or Sunday or whenever it might be.

“There just wasn’t that amount of time to get back and obviously the team were playing well. I just knew I had to be patient and wait for my opportunity again.

“I did that and had a few good games, over recent weeks anyway, especially at the weekend, and happy to be back here (with England), yeah.”

Asked if he had spoken to Southgate during his time out of the City line-up, Stones told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think it was maybe last camp or the camp before that, we spoke about it.

“It was almost a bit of a reassurance, or things that I already knew and was already thinking, but just to ‘stick with it and you’ll get your time’.

John Stones has won 42 of his 55 caps under Gareth Southgate

John Stones has won 42 of his 55 caps under Gareth Southgate (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I think sometimes when you’re not playing you know why you’re not playing because of errors or bad form or whatever it might be and I knew it wasn’t anything like that.”

Stones admits he found it “relatively easy” to keep his head up during that time on the sidelines, having learned over the years to be more selfless and team-focused.

“It’s something that you’re always improving on but definitely has come with experience and time,” the defender, who signed a new five-year deal in August, said.

“I think you learn a lot from difficult times and I have tried to do it with the good times as well now, knowing what it feels like when things are going well and not to go the opposite way when things aren’t.

“I think definitely, probably in a subconscious way, I have been practicing and trying to do that.

“I think it is so important nowadays that everybody is aware of that side of the game and open to doing things, which I think everyone in this room especially and in our team are more open to speaking about and actually taking steps in the right direction.”

The focus for now is keeping England on the right path, with World Cup qualification tantalisingly close ahead of matches against Albania and San Marino.

“The last game we played against Albania wasn’t an easy one by any stretch,” Stones added.

“They caused us problems, so we never go into any game showing the team no respect.

“We give respect to every team and especially when there is so much on the line for us.”

Read more
Arsenal FC defender Ben White
Thomas Tuchel offers update on whether Ben White will be available for England
Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, looks on during a training session at St Georges Park on March 18, 2025 in Burton-upon-Trent, England Journalist and Media pundit, Henry Winter looks on from the press box during the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James' Park on June 03, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
'Where’s the "one of our own" that’s remotely good enough? The FA needed to be pragmatic, not patriotic.' Writing exclusively for FourFourTwo Henry Winter reminds England fans why they have good reason to be smiling
Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Ben White, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire of England train during an England training session at Al Wakrah Stadium on November 16, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
'I would ban him. Modern-day players want to pick and choose their England career - I would have played if I was 50' England legend believes star shouldn't play for Three Lions for the next YEAR
England Euro 2024 squad Gareth Southgate, Head Coach of England, looks on during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland at Düsseldorf Arena on July 06, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
'You can find yourself mocked if you don’t conform to the latest trend. As hardened as I am to criticisms, there’s no way I was going to trawl through social media last summer and read abuse' Sir Gareth Southgate opens up on abuse during England spell
When are the international breaks? England's German Thomas Tuchel arrives to attend the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup European qualifiers at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, on December 13, 2024.
England boss Thomas Tuchel holds talks over shock call-up: report
Newcastle United's English defender #33 Dan Burn celebrates with the trophy on the pitch after the English League Cup final football match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium, north-west London on March 16, 2025. Newcastle won the game 2-1.
'He was at my foundation ball last Saturday and was drinking water all night because he had to leave early for the game on Monday' Alan Shearer on why Dan Burn deserves his England call-up
Latest in
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Latest in News
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report