Pep Guardiola has hailed the renaissance of John Stones ahead of Manchester City's clash with West Brom tonight.
While Saturday's derby stalemate at Manchester United was hardly a thriller, the result did mark City’s third successive clean sheet in the Premier League.
And all three have come with Stones (pictured above) at the heart of the defence — despite the England international’s time with the club having looked all but over as recently as last month.
The 26-year-old featured in only one of City's eight opening league games but his recent form alongside summer signing Ruben Dias is keeping Aymeric Laporte out of the team.
Guardiola, 49, said: "Aymeric deserves to be in the team but John and Ruben also deserve to be in the team.
"They played incredibly well in the last few games and didn't make one single mistake.
"What players have to do when out of the team is work harder, better and the moment will come. And when the moment comes, have a good performance.
"But it's about how you perform right now. Right now, John and Ruben are performing brilliantly, so they play."
City remain six points off the top of the table after both Tottenham and Liverpool drew at the weekend — but Guardiola’s focus is only on this evening's clash with the Baggies.
He added: "I don't know, I don't know how many points. I didn't know it three or four years ago either. The game against West Brom is the only concern.
"I know everyone has the tendency to try and figure out what will happen. I don't know what will happen [against West Brom], let alone in three or four months or next season."
Sergio Aguero has returned to training after missing the goalless draw with United and will be assessed prior to the game, while Eric Garcia is out.
West Brom have lost their last 13 league games against City and sit 19th in the league after sa 2-1 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.
Matheus Pereira remains unavailable due to suspension, while Conor Townsend and Hal Robson-Kanu are sidelined with injuries.
Did you know?
City’s 13-game winning run against West Brom is their longest against a specific opponent in their top-flight history.
West Brom have never won a Premier League game at the Etihad in 11 attempts, with their last away league win at Man City coming in February 2003 at Maine Road.
City have scored 17 goals in 11 league games this season — 17 fewer than at this stage last term, when they had 34.
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