John Stones sets teammates Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias a Man City challenge

John Stones has set Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias a challenge ahead of Manchester City's trip to Everton.

Stones began his career at Barnsley before earning a move to the Premier League with the Toffees.

In 2016 he made the switch to City, a move that's seen him win three Premier League titles.

However, despite forming a solid partnership with Ruben Dias last season, he now finds himself out of favour at the Etihad, with Aymeric Laporte seemingly Pep Guardiola's go-to man to partner Dias at centre-back.

Ahead of his return to Goodison Park, the 27-year-old has offered a challenge to his centre-back colleagues as he aims to make his way back into Guardiola's preferred starting XI.

"I am fighting to play as many games as I can and trying to recreate what we did last season by winning the Premier League and maybe go one step further," he said.

"We are still in two other competitions as well - the FA Cup and the Champions League - and the focus is always to get more, want more and strive for more as an individual and as a club.

"There are still a lot of things to play for and you could say that it is getting to an exciting time."

City are three points clear at the top of the Premier League after Liverpool cut the gap in midweek with a 6-0 thrashing of Leeds United.

Guardiola's men could re-establish a six-point cushion this weekend as the Reds are not in league action due to their involvement in the Carabao Cup final.

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