ROLLING STONES IS GATHERING GLOSS IN RETURN TO STARTING XI

THERE aren't many players in this City squad who haven't been linked with a transfer this summer, but the window opened with John Stones' future in the spotlight after an injury-plagued couple of seasons.

- By TYRONE MARSHALL

A series of injury setbacks have derailed Stones since he emerged as one of the heroes of the Blues' Treble-winning season.

He produced several outstanding performances as a hybrid defender/midfielder, most notably in the Champions League final in Istanbul, as the Blues swept all before them.

Stones looked untouchable then, but fast-forward a couple of years, and he is the wrong side of 30 and beginning to look injury-prone.

He wasn’t seen again last season after limping out of City’s defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in Feb ruary after just eight minutes and spent the entirety of the Club World Cup on the bench.