Thomas Tuchel has made it clear: John Stones must stay fit if he wants to be on the plane to next summer’s World Cup.
The England boss, who has quickly shown he isn’t afraid to make bold calls, admitted that Stones’ constant injury niggles are threatening his place in the squad after the defender pulled out of the qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
It’s a huge blow for both England and Manchester City, given Stones’ quality on the ball and leadership in the dressing room.
Tuchel revealed he had planned to start him at centre-back against Andorra and even considered deploying him as a No. 6 in Serbia a role Stones has excelled in under Pep Guardiola. But with another setback, those plans are shelved.
Tuchel’s frustration was obvious, but so was his admiration. He called Stones the “social glue” of the group, a player whose presence lifts the team.
Yet the message was clear: talent alone won’t guarantee a World Cup ticket availability will. With Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, and Jarell Quansah all waiting in the wings, competition for places is fierce.
This England setup under Tuchel already feels like a new era, where reputation won’t outweigh reliability.
As seen in Tuchel’s England: The Real Show Begins, the German tactician is shaping a squad that thrives on tactical flexibility and relentless energy. For Stones, the challenge is simple yet brutal: stay fit, or risk watching it all from home.
