Manchester City and England defender John Stones has revealed he nearly retired last season due to recurring injuries that limited him to just 11 Premier League appearances.
Battling foot and hamstring issues, the 31-year-old missed England duty for nearly a year and described the mental toll as “a very difficult place to be.”
Despite the setbacks, Stones is back in England’s squad under new manager Thomas Tuchel for the October 14 World Cup qualifier against Latvia, which could seal their spot in the 2026 tournament.
“I had enough of doing everything right and still breaking down,” Stones told BBC Radio 5 Live. “But deep down, I knew I’d fight through it.”
Stones has made five starts this season but remains behind Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in City’s defensive pecking order.
