John Stones captained Manchester City to victory at Newcastle in the FA Cup on Saturday. His start was just his second since November as he has been struggling with a calf problem. Stones has been an integral part of the England defence at the last four major tournaments and was crucial in helping City win the treble in 2023.
Thomas Tuchel watched Stones at St James' Park as he stepped up his comeback. Stones is now trying to force his way into the City side to face Real Madrid on Tuesday. The competition for places has increased with the January arrival of Marc Guehi, while Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, and Abdukodir Khusanov are also competing for centre-back spots.