Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that he still considers defender John Stones an integral part of his side.

The 22-year-old - a £47.5m summer buy from Everton - has not featured in Guardiola's plans since being dropped after the 4-2 defeat at Leicester City earlier this month, but the Spaniard insists that he has not been indefinitely frozen out.

"I know that people think if a player doesn't play it is because the coach doesn't trust him any more. That is not the truth," Guardiola told reporters.

"It's the first time in his career he played every three days.

"He has to improve but he's open and he has a lot of personality. When you play in the big teams, the character is there. I have no doubts John has that."

Stones has featured 21 times in all competitions for City this term.

Written by
Neil Wilkes