I'VE HAD SOM LONELY DAYS.SELF-DOUBT TAKES OVER

Stones opens up after being plagued by injuries

- JOHN CROSS

JOHN STONES has opened up on the "lonely dark days" which made him question whether he still had a future in football.

The Manchester City defender, 31, missed a huge chunk of last season including the final three months through injury and is still managing his minutes and rehabilitation at the Club World Cup.

Stones is not expected to start games in the United States, but is training well, stepping up his fitness, and will be ready for the beginning of the Premier League season in August.

Despite winning trophies galore at the Etihad and being one of the finest defenders in England's recent past, Stones has been plagued by setbacks.

The centre-back says he is now feeling in "great shape", but opened up on the frustrations of his season just gone and also how tough it is mentally to come through it when he admits he was wracked by self-doubt.