The former Blues star holds the England international in high regard and considers Pep Guardiola to share that opinion in the Etihad Stadium.
John Stones stays a”quality” celebrity and the Manchester City protector is only enduring a”bad patch”, states Nedum Onuoha.
The British worldwide has been thrust back under the microscope after seeing another error interfere with City’s cause in a Carabao Cup ultimate battle with Aston Villa.
Pep Guardiola’s side emerged 2-1 victors on the day, but their day could have been more comfortable had Stones not suffered the most untimely of slips.
His inability to clear the Blues’ lines handed Villa a lifeline in Wembley — one which they clung to until finally being denied by a third consecutive success in the contest for City.
Further questions are being asked of Stones’ value in the Etihad Stadium on the back of his newest high-profile mistake.
It’s not the first time that the 25-year-old has found himself in this situation, with over-playing and lapses in concentration using turned into an all too familiar theme.
Former Blues celebrity Onuoha is, however, adamant that Stones remains a dependable operator and a guy who retains the entire support of his supervisor.
“You know, I really don’t believe he [Stones] isn’t a good player,” Onuoha, who stepped from City’s academy to take in 116 appearances for the club, told Love Sport Radio.
“I just think at the moment he is being penalized every time – so it is like in case you could fall over and the ball could go from play and nothing happens, but instead he falls over and a excellent cross comes in and also a wonderful header and it is 2-1 and it provides Aston Vila the expectation.
“It’s just it seems like he is just in a bad spot right now, but he’s an excellent player. And I think if he was not, you’d not find him playing in the cup final.
“Pep wouldn’t pick him. He might have chosen whoever he wanted to select, you know, he might have put two midfielders there when he wanted to.
“But this is a participant who he’s trusted in on the greatest event. So yeah, I think he is a fantastic player, he just needs to cut out some of the mistakes he is going through in the moment or simply find some luck where the errors do not lead to large talking points, as you know that there are tons of players making mistakes than him in the league, but we simply don’t talk about it as much because it doesn’t result in a highlight.”
Stones was signed by City for #47.5 million ($61m) back in the summer of 2016 and has obtained in 126 outings for the club forming part of 2 Premier League title triumphs, two Carabao Cup successes and an FA Cup win.
