Pep Guardiola attributes John Stones’ hamstring injury to playing unnecessary international football

Pep Guardiola has blamed unnecessary international football for the injury John Stones picked up on Saturday.

Stones went down in the first half in the 2-0 win over Leicester City, clutching his hamstring and the defender is now set for a lengthy absence.

The centre-back could miss as much as six weeks which would rule him out of City’s derby with Manchester United.

It is a costly injury to an important player for Manchester City with the Sky Blues currently top of the table.

Stones has played in every Premier League game this season for City, completing eight 90 minutes, while also featuring in England’s last four games.

‘Before the international friendly games, the body is the body,’ Guardiola said after the game.

‘In the calendar we demand a lot from players. Fifa demand a lot.

‘It’s not possible to sustain these players. I understand Gareth Southgate.

‘He prepared the team for the World Cup in Russia. He is the manager, so he can take the decisions.

‘I understand completely Gareth [has] to take the decisions for the best.’

Stones played 90 minutes in both of England’s friendlies over the international break.

City face United on December 10 at Old Trafford in what could be a crucial game in deciding the next Premier League champions.

Stones looks set to miss that game and could sit out as many as eleven games.

‘You play 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes and then go to your international team and play two 90 minutes that don’t count for anything in terms of points,’ Guardiola continued.

‘These kind of things happen. That’s why I will rotate the team, because if not many players will go out.’

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