Why John Stones should follow Chris Smalling example to get career back on track

Manchester City centre-back John Stones could find opportunities hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium this season.

In Italy, Chris Smalling enjoyed a renaissance, fittingly. At Manchester United, the central defender had allowed his career to stall at Old Trafford.

A fresh start was needed and Smalling found it on loan at Roma last season, with the 30-year-old shining in Serie A.

In the land where defenders are judged like no other, Smalling flourished. Now, it seems inevitable that the centre-back will secure a permanent return to Roma - Smalling has been training on his own at United’s Carrington training base ahead of a transfer. According to widespread reports, the player himself has been key to pushing through a deal, such is his desperation to return to Italy.

One wonders what John Stones makes of Smalling’s recent success. In many ways, the Manchester City centre-back finds himself in a similar situation to the one Smalling did a year ago. Indeed, Stones has allowed his career to stagnate at the Etihad Stadium, no longer even considered a first-team starter following a number of mistakes and below-par performances.

Pep Guardiola admitted towards the end of last season that Stones could leave City, with the centre back’s future up for discussion.

“On the transfer market [and its issues] we speak at the end of the season,” the City manager said (as per the Guardian ). “[But] I’ve said many times I’m more than delighted with John as a person, as a pro, everything.

“What I want is the best for him. We’ll speak at the end of the season about what is going to happen.”

Signed as the most expensive defender in the game’s history at the time, much was expected of Stones at City. He was seen as the perfect Guardiola centre-back, capable of bringing the ball out from defence and linking up with the midfield. The move to City was supposed to represent the next step in his development into becoming the predominant English defender of his generation.

That development stalled, though, and now Stones is a peripheral figure for both City and England. In fact, the 26-year-old might even be as low as fifth in the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, behind Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake, Eric Garcia, Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho. City are also believed to be in the market for another centre back this summer, with the club keen on landing Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.

Like Smalling last summer, Stones needs a career reboot and a fresh start. Whether it’s in Serie A or somewhere else, the 26-year-old should seek a new challenge. It would help if that challenge came where he can escape the constant gaze of the English media, but most importantly Stones needs to find a club willing to embrace him and give him a platform to play and improve again.

There is, quite clearly, a lot of potential in Stones. His technical ability has never been in question. It’s what primarily led City to pay £47.5million for him four years ago. It’s why so much has been expected of him from the moment he broke into the Everton first-team. Ability has never been the issue.

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Instead, it’s Stones’ decision making and concentration which has let him down. These lapses were also evident in his Everton days, but the thinking went that Guardiola would help iron them out. He hasn’t, though. In fact, if anything the lapses have become more common since Stones made the switch to City.

Smalling has shown Stones it’s never too late to get back on track. He also showed the Manchester City defender the value in opening one’s mind to new opportunities.

Roma gave Smalling what he needed to revitalise his career and now Stones should find the same for himself in a new club and a new challenge.