Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed John Stones faces a six-week injury lay with a hamstring injury.
Stones has made a breathtaking start to the season but was forced off after just 31 minutes into City’s 2-0 win away to Leicester after collapsing with a leg injury.
Guardiola has now confirmed City’s worst fears and they do not expect the 23-year-old to make a full recovery until the end of January.
“All of the month he will be out [December],” The Daily Mail quote Guardiola as saying ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Feyenoord. “Hopefully he will recover well for the end of January.”
It means that Stones will at least be sidelined for City’s next 12 matches, including games against Manchester United and Tottenham.
Stones’ unavailability will only heap pressure on Vincent Kompany to stay fit for a prolonged period.
The City captain returned from a near three-month absence to start against Leicester on Saturday and his unavailability would really leave Guardiola short of options at the back with Nicolas Otamendi and the unflavoured Eliaquim Mangala the only other recognised centre-backs.
Stones has the best pass success rate in Europe’s top five leagues this season (96.6%).
