Pep Guardiola drops John Stones selection hint for Fulham clash amid exit talk | OneFootball

John Stones is unlikely to be thrown straight into the mix following his return from injury, Pep Guardiola has confirmed ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Fulham.

Manchester City will be gunning for a third straight win in all competitions at the Etihad Stadium, fresh from a monumental comeback win against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday evening courtesy of late strikes from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.

The Blues have given themselves renewed hope in the title race and while they remain six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s side are not giving up hopes of a fifth league crown in six seasons just yet.

Having made a poor start to 2026 that saw Manchester City let leads slip away for fun in January, the tide seems to be changing at the Etihad Stadium and after crucial wins over Newcastle United and Liverpool in the last week, nothing less than three points will do against Fulham on Wednesday.

City welcomed Ruben Dias back to action against Liverpool as the 28-year-old Portugal international replaced Abdukodir Khusanov in the second-half after the young Uzbek defender went off with a suspected head injury.

Guardiola confirmed in his pre-Fulham press conference on Tuesday that Khusanov is fit and ready to start against Marco Silva’s side, which could see the 21-year-old partner one of Dias or January signing Marc Guehi in central defence.

Having added Guehi to his ranks for a cut-throat £20 million fee from Crystal Palace in January, Guardiola has greater options at his disposal now – having dealt with a personnel crisis in defence after Dias and Josko Gvardiol went off with injuries in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in January.

The Blues are fighting on all fronts as they look to improve upon a dismal 2024-25 season and Guardiola needs as many players that he can rely on, with John Stones also returning to full first-team training last week.

Stones has endured another injury-riddled campaign that has seen him struggle for consistency and thereby fall down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, with the England international expected to leave Manchester City when his contract expires in the summer.

Guardiola was asked whether the 31-year-old is fit to face Fulham on Wednesday. “He’s made three or four training sessions with the team after two months and a half out. So step by step,” the Manchester City manager said on Stones.

Stones is unlikely to be offered a new deal by club bosses, who will be left by little encouragement over a potential renewal for the six-time Premier League winner after another injury-ravaged season for Stones, who joined City from Everton in 2016 and has played a pivotal role in the club’s success under Guardiola.

However, the Barnsley-born star is set to be shown the door at the end of the season and with City having recruited heavily in central defence in the last 12 months, director of football Hugo Viana will be at ease with outstanding options should this be Stones’ final year in east Manchester.