John Stones is ready to face Liverpool after successfully coming through 90 minutes against Atletico Madrid.
The Manchester City defender pulled out of an England game in the warm-up over the international period after suffering discomfort in his groin, and subsequently returned home early rather than staying for the second friendly. After suffering inflammation due to the antibiotics he was taking, it was decided to leave Stones on the bench for the Burnley game at the weekend.
That further reduced Pep Guardiola's options, given Ruben Dias - who was the first choice pick next to Stones last season - has not yet recovered from a hamstring injury picked up at the beginning of March. However, not only did Stones get through the Champions League match with Atletico and put his recent frustration behind him but he did not feel any problems from the injury.
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Stones feels ready to go again on Sunday when Liverpool visit the Etihad in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash that could ultimately decide the title. And he does not think he will alone in the squad in doing everything he can to make himself available for the games coming up.
"I feel good. I was glad to be back out there," he said. "It was frustrating during the England camp and it was a bit too soon for Burnley. I was there and tried to come back but these things happen. It was nothing major.
"It was frustrating but I'd done everything to be back as soon as possible. Tonight was possible, which was great, so now I'm looking forward to the next few months.
"As players you want to be in these big games and play in them. We can't control when the games are and who we play. We can focus on ourselves and be excited, which we are as players.
"There maybe hasn't been another time where there have been such big games but how we approach them is no different to any other, no matter what the competition, so a big few months ahead, a lot to fight for and it's where we want to be, so we're excited."
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