Pep Guardiola talks to John Stones of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City
John Stones missed training on Monday to hand Pep Guardiola another injury worry
John Stones' latest return from injury lasted just 45 minutes at Aston Villa, and he could now be set for another spell on the sidelines.
Stones was rushed back to the City starting line-up at Villa Park due to Ruben Dias' injury, but felt a recurrence of his previous injury and had to be replaced. Pep Guardiola wouldn't offer any definitive update on his injured players, but predicted that Stones is unlikely to make the Everton clash on Boxing Day.
Stones has played just 12 times so far of which eight have been starts, and the Everton game would be the 12th game he has been unavailable for.
The defender would join colleague Dias in the injury room over Christmas and New Year, with the Portuguese out for another three weeks at least. Stones and Dias have started just one game together all season - the late win at Wolves.
Pep Guardiola also offered an update on goalkeeper Ederson, who missed the Villa defeat, and also midfielder Matheus Nunes.
He said: "I didn’t talk with the doctors but if he could not play the second half at Villa Park it is because he wasn’t ready. We’ll see.
“We train this afternoon and will see how many players we have available. At the moment, I don’t know."
Guardiola also confirmed that the squad will train late on Christmas Day before staying overnight at the City Football Academy before the 12.30pm kick-off on Boxing Day.
“We train today and we train tomorrow night, and then we stay here and then play on Boxing Day," he said.
“Tonight and tomorrow, they will be with their families. Tomorrow night they will be here. Hopefully they want to be here - it is our job.”
Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain out, with Bobb hopeful of a return to training in around a month's time.