John Stones return might spell bad news for one Man City teammate

Pep Guardiola had one sure-fire way to avoid any unnecessary angst when England got down to business against Italy in their Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley on Tuesday night.

With five Manchester City players strutting their stuff beneath the famous arch, their Catalan manager might have been best served turning off his TV and getting his family to hide the remote control. And if that is what happened, Guardiola would have been mightily relieved by the time he flicked on the highlights.

Academy graduate Phil Foden pinpointed a return to form this season with an impressive display, while his fellow treble-winners Kyle Walker, John Stones, Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish also featured as England rubber-stamped their place at next summer's finals in Germany with two matches to spare.

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It comes as no coincidence to see such a strong City flavour to this vibrant England side and the relative success they have had in reaching the latter stages in major international competitions together. History makers with City last season, the quintet would become sporting immortals if they help football come home next summer, but that six-decade-long dream can be saved for another time.

Walker, Stones, Phillips, Foden and £100million man Grealish are already back at City HQ and, while Euros qualification remains something to savour, it will be business as usual for them when the Premier League returns vs Brighton at the Etihad Stadium next up. City will be out to end their 'losing run' in that showdown.

Guardiola and his star-studded champions set off like a train this season before Wolves and