John Stones in line for England recall after more than a year in international wilderness

John Stones is set for a recall to the England squad after more than a year in the international wilderness.

England manager Gareth Southgate has been greatly encouraged by the Manchester City defender’s dramatic return to form this season and is ready to reward him with a call-up for March’s World Cup qualifying triple header.

Stones, 26, last played for England against Montenegro in November 2019 but he is in line to return to the international fold for the games against San Marino, Albania and Poland barring injury.

The City centre-half said after scoring twice in his side’s 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday that an England recall would “mean everything” and his resurgence is a significant boost for Southgate given the manager’s issues in central defence.

Stones was facing an uncertain future at City in the summer and had dropped out of Southgate’s thinking after falling down the pecking order at his club due to injuries, poor form and turbulence in his personal life.

Yet the former Everton defender has responded impressively to establish himself as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice centre-back alongside Ruben Dias this season and provide the defensive foundations that the City manager hopes will help to deliver a third Premier League title in four seasons.

City - who have risen to second in the table, two points behind leaders Manchester United but with a game in hand - have won nine and drawn one of the 10 games Stones and Dias have started together this season and conceded just one goal in that time.

Stones admitted falling out of favour at City and England was tough to take but is hoping for another chance under Southgate.

“It’s hard when you’re not playing for your club and especially your country,” said Stones. “Watching them on TV is something no player wants to do. All I can do is get a run of games and impress Gareth. If it happens, it happens. It would mean everything.”

Central defence is arguably Southgate’s biggest headache going into the European Championships this summer. A serious knee injury to Liverpool’s Joe Gomez has robbed Southgate of one valuable option and Southgate is still to settle on a first-choice back three, with Tyrone Mings, Michael Keane, Eric Dier and Kyle Walker all in the mix for places alongside United captain, Harry Maguire, who appears the only automatic pick.

Stones was a key part of the England side that reached the World Cup finals in Russia in the summer of 2018, after which the defender’s career ran aground.

Yet Southgate has long been an admirer of Stones and the sight of the defender playing the most assured football of his career is a huge fillip for the England manager with the Euros on the horizon.

Southgate - who was at the Etihad last week to watch City's 1-0 win over Brighton - has always valued Stones’s composure on the ball but his aggression and growing maturity in the position in recent months have also resonated and he would bring considerable experience and know-how to England’s back line.

Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder, believes Stones remains England’s best defender when fit and focused. “It’s good news for England,” Murphy said. “I still think when he’s playing like that he’s our best centre-half. He deserves great credit and so does Pep, because there would have been a few managers who would have got him out the door.”

Stones said he had taken a long, hard look at himself and pinpointed what he needed to do to resurrect his career. “I wouldn't say it's confidence - it’s looking at what I can affect and improve on,” he said.

“It’s down to me to look at myself. I went away and worked hard every day on the training pitch, in the gym, making sure I’m ready to be called on. Looking at every detail, recovery or whatever is, I dedicated everything to get back into the team and to show I’m fighting for the shirt, my team-mates and the club.”

Raheem Sterling, Stones’ City and England-mate, said recently that the defender had “trained like an animal” to get into this position.

“He’s gone through a difficult patch, like everyone can do, and everyone has in the past,” Sterling said. “It just shows his mentality and where he’s at to keep going and wait for his opportunity. He’s trained like an animal since he hasn’t been in the team, he hasn't dropped his head, he hasn’t sulked, not once, he’s in the gym every day. So when I see him now reaping rewards, I'm really happy for him.”