Former Manchester City star John Stones may have picked up an injury during a first start for Inter Milan in their eight-goal Serie A thriller
John Stones looks to have picked up an injury during Inter Milan's Serie A victory on Monday
John Stones looks to have picked up an injury during Inter Milan's Serie A victory on Monday(Image: (Photo by Mattia Pistoia - Inter/Inter via Getty Images))
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Inter Milan boss Cristian Chivu has admitted John Stones "felt something in his flexor" which forced him off during a 5-3 win over over Udinese. The former Manchester City defender made his first start on Monday since joining the Italian champions but left the San Siro prematurely due to a potential issue.
Stones pulled up while chasing Keinan Davis and signalled to the bench before later being replaced by Benjamin Pavard. Prior to that, he had endured a tough game with Italian media outlet L’Interista giving Stones a rating of five.
They wrote: “He was in trouble. He didn’t mark anyone for the first goal, leaving Akanji with two men, and lost all of his duels with Davies. It was already known that the injury issue would be key to the Englishman’s season.”
Curtis Jones was also sent on when Stones was replaced with the ex-Liverpool star enjoying a great start at Inter in comparison to the latter and fellow Englishman Djed Spence.
The former Tottenham defender is yet to feature because of injury while both Jones and Stones put in solid displays against Real Madrid in the Champions League last week.
Stones could now be set for a spell on the sidelines, however, with his injury problems during the final years at City suggesting it is unlikely to be an issue he overcomes quickly. Inter take on AS Roma away from home in their final game before the international break.
That could be a significant break for him to rest and recover but Thomas Tuchel will more than likely want him as part of England's squad to face Spain, Croatia and Czech Republic twice in the Nations League.
Stones has been deployed in the middle of a back three with Chivu previously praising the experience he and Jones will bring after they made history for Inter in the win over Cagliari as it was the first time they had fielded two English players at the same time.
Curtis Jones and John Stones of Inter Milan
Curtis Jones and John Stones both joined Inter Milan in the summer
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He said in late August: "They're experienced players who are comfortable playing under pressure in certain matches. I have nothing to reproach them for their attitude, they are two exemplary guys who give everything and I'm happy to have them."
Several Premier League club's were interested in signing the 32-year-old at the end of his last City contract. Inter then joined the race and Stones' mind was made up quickly.
He won countless trophies during his decade under Pep Guardiola but was gradually phased out with Marc Guehi, who joined in January, seemingly his replacement.
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Bernardo Silva also departed as a free agent to join Real Madrid while City raised funds from selling Savio to Tottenham, Rodri to Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah among many other high-profile exits.
That allowed City to spend big on Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye with both key to their impressive Manchester derby victory after losing Phil Foden to a red card inside just 23 minutes.
Erling Haaland grabbed the winner in controversial fashion with Fernandez not deemed to have impacted the play despite clearly making an attempt for the ball while in an offside position.