John Stones reveals he nearly quit professional football during one of the most challenging periods of his career, spending time last October considering retirement after suffering multiple injuries. Despite these struggles, the Manchester City defender has been named in England's 26-player World Cup squad for the tournament underway in North America.
Stones is expected to start in England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday (21:00 BST). He appeared in only 18 games for City last season across all competitions, missing two months with a thigh injury and subsequently suffering a calf strain that kept him out of England's pre-tournament friendlies.
"I feel like one of my greatest achievements is to keep coming back from those setbacks, no matter how big they are and being on top form," Stones told BBC Sport. "I really had to dig deep and I am proud of myself for being so mentally strong throughout and coming out the other end of those scenarios."
Stones' injury status directly affects England's defensive setup and could shift injury/player availability markets; sustained fitness through the group stage becomes a key factor for squad rotation pricing.
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