"?John Stones claims that he has learned better defensive play already under new boss Pep Guardiola, telling "?"?Sky Sports that the Spaniard has helped him decide when to clear the ball into the stands.
Last season, Stones was often prone to playing the ball out of defence when it would have been better simply to thump the ball clear.
John Stones opens up on Pep effect: "Already I can see a difference in my decision-making."? https://t.co/1JAoxhotLe pic.twitter.com/AFqJFm1fJ4
"We can all regroup from putting it in row Z sometimes," said Stones. "From last season to the start of this season I'm realising when to do it. That's where I believe I have come on quite a lot as a player."
"I was doing things before and then afterwards I would think, 'Why have I done that? Why haven't I just put it out in row Z?' Already I can see a difference in my decision-making."
Stones has managed to earn a starting place in England's starting XI against Slovakia on Sunday, after losing favour with Roberto Martinez at Everton last season.
John Stones, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana back for Sam Allardyce's first England gamehttps://t.co/bOJ28C8gS9 pic.twitter.com/9i5Xf4SZfI
"I felt I was doing everything I could and deserved to play and still wasn't," remarked Stones. "That's when I found it hard. It's probably a question you should have asked the manager at the time because he wasn't telling me."
"Roberto had his style of play and kind of changed that towards the end of his career at Everton. He changed the whole style of the team and things weren't working out at that time so you could say it wasn't the best decision."
Stones decided that it was best to move on, and found himself the subject of a successful £47.5m bid from Manchester City.
"I just want to keep improving, keep getting games under my belt. That's why I moved to City and, in my eyes, the best manager to work with in football. Hopefully he will bring me on leaps and bounds."
"I've been taking in a lot of information these last few weeks, trying to figure out how to fit in. But you have to keep improving as a player and as a person because you have to move on in life."
Why John Stones has to be the mainstay of Big Sam's team. Why Wilshere's move is an example to Walcott & the OX. https://t.co/06NvzqFnWg