The English defender put in a Man of the Match performance as his side cruised to their ninth successive league victory on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola had special praise for John Stones after Manchester City’s 4-0 against Crystal Palace as he applauded the player for his remarkable resurgence this season.
Stones scored a brace, netting his first and second goal of the league campaign, to help his side climb up to second place in the Premier League standings.
The 26-year-old center-back has been immense for his side this season with the Sky Blues recording seven clean sheets and letting in just two goals in the nine games he has started so far.
Injuries and inconsistency had been a major hindrance for the Englishman to fulfill his potential even since arriving at the Etihad back in 2016 but he now seems to have cemented his place in the City starting XI.
“If there is one player I am more than pleased that everything is going well, it’s John Stones,” Guardiola told Sky Sports post-match. “He is playing because he deserves it.”
Guardiola added to BBC Sport: “Stones’ revival? That belongs to him. “If there’s one guy who deserves it, it is John. He has struggled for many reasons in the past, it belongs to him how he overcame this.
“It’s just minutes for him. He deserves to play, he doesn’t make mistakes and he’s created a good partnership with Ruben Dias.”
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