John Stones can be Pep Guardiola's new Vincent Kompany with Man City role reversal at Everton

No Manchester City player is more emblematic of Pep Guardiola’s time in charge than John Stones.

Back in 2016, he was the ball-playing defender who arrived as a big-money signing - a symbol of both Guardiola’s radical playing style and, as the on-field errors piled up, his first season as a coach that ended without a major trophy.

City and Stones then rebounded spectacularly, romping to the 2017/18 Premier League title with a record-breaking 100-point haul. The centre-back was then a key member of the England side that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

Stones’ remarkable goalline clearance in a 2-1 win over Liverpool was one of the pivotal moments of the 2018/19 title defence as City pipped Jurgen Klopp’s men at the post by 98 points to 97.

The Blues could not make it three in a row as Liverpool ran away with the 2019/20 season, while form and fitness woes for Stones appeared to spell the end of his time at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola, his first star defensive signing and the squad as a whole responded emphatically last term, with Stones playing the best football of his career to regain his spot for club and country.

Just as City are “boring” in the eyes of some, you barely notice the 27-year-old nowadays such is his efficiency.

“He was injured many times, unfortunately, not like last season and Ayme [Aymeric Laporte] has been brilliant,” Guardiola said of Stones’ efforts this time around, when his playing minutes have dwindled but his form has not.

“He is so important, John. We speak a lot, He is a mature guy, much more than when we landed six years ago.

“He is a key important player for us, we are more than pleased with him,”

The fact plenty of City fans want to see Stones return against his former