Manchester City's English defender John Stones reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on October 16, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Why Ruben Dias and John Stones are missing from Man City squad vs Bournemouth
Manchester City welcomed three players back into their squad for Bournemouth but lost two more.
Kyle Walker has been missing since the international break with a knee problem, but is fit enough to start for City at the Vitality Stadium. Rico Lewis, who Pep Guardiola had said in midweek they could not afford to rest, does get a spot on the bench.
Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku both return from their respective issues to join Lewis on the bench and Savinho is there as well after the knock he picked up in midweek. Josko Gvardiol and Manu Akanji are fit to start after their problems at Spurs.
However, John Stones and Ruben Dias did not travel with the squad for the game. Dias played a half at Spurs and Guardiola said that he was having difficulties, while Stones played the full match.
City’s official site did not mention the pair, but Guardiola said before the game: "They are out for a little bit of a long time," leaving their issues and return timeframes vague.
The squad leaves Jack Grealish, Rodri and Oscar Bobb out, alongside Dias and Stones. Savinho had been stretchered off at Spurs but Guardiola confirmed he did not suffer a fracture and he was fit enough to travel to Bournemouth.