PREMIER LEAGUE

John Stones holds key to England’s defensive shortcomings

Foundation Stones: England may look to the Manchester City defender to partner Harry Maguire at the back
Foundation Stones: England may look to the Manchester City defender to partner Harry Maguire at the back
ADAM DAVY

The player who could most shape the 2019-20 season? No, not Mo Salah, not Raheem Sterling, not Kevin De Bruyne and not Virgil van Dijk — but John Stones.

With Aymeric Laporte sidelined for six months, the Premier League title race could come down to how successful Stones proves at recovering his form of two seasons ago and keeping Manchester City defensively intact.

And then there is England. A campaign climaxing with a ‘home’ European Championship and best shot at glory in a generation rather seems to come down to one of the country’s most enigmatic players.

When Stones is good he’s very, very good. But when he is bad he does mad things like pirouette on the edge of his own box in a