The defender, who fans now reference as a midfielder, featured for the opening 45 minutes of the Club’s first pre-season match against Yokohama F. Marinos.
And in the first game of the Asia Tour ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, the CFG sister club posed a threat from the beginning, taking a two-goal lead.
City came back to win 5-3, with Stones opening up the scoring for Pep Guardiola’s side with a sublime well-placed shot into the top-left corner.
And it’s the hybrid role bestowed upon him by the manager that has allowed him to be in goalscoring positions like today’s.
HOW TO FOLLOW CITY’S 2023 ASIA TOUR
“I’m really enjoying it,” said Stones following City’s 5-3 win at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
“I’m still learning every day, training, trying to master little things that I’m good at and work on the things I’m not good at.
“And if the manager wants to play me there and then decides to do new things or the same things and build on them from last season I’ll give it my all as I did.
“I absolutely love the kind of freedom to get forward and create things and bring my qualities and that side of my game out.
“I surprised myself sometimes in the positions I get in but yeah I really enjoy it and I’m just trying to give everything every time I go out there.”
