long-term future put in doubt

PEP GUARDIOLA said City may have to get 'creative' with their defence for the next two months as he ruled out two January moves and cast doubt on the long-term future of John Stones.

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The City centre-back has not played for the team for over a month and, with just six months remaining on his contract, Guardiola said he had no idea when the England man will be ready to feature again.

Gvardiol may not play again this season after breaking his leg, while Dias has been ruled out for four to six weeks with a hamstring problem.

It leaves Guardiola with just Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov as his two centre-backs, who have just two league starts between them since the beginning of October. Even more troubling, the manager has admitted that Ake will struggle to play regularly because of the physical demands of the game on his body.