Manchester City are handed a big boost as John Stones returns to training - with defender having been sidelined for almost a month due to an ankle injury

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Manchester City have been boosted by John Stones returning to training after an ankle injury.

Stones suffered the problem during the victory at Everton on December 27 in a collision with Beto after the linesman had kept his flag down despite the striker standing offside.

The England international has made his first steps to a comeback by rejoining his City teammates in parts of training during their warm-weather break in Abu Dhabi.

The Treble winners are back in action on Friday when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round.

But they are unlikely to be able to call on striker Erling Haaland, who admitted he is becoming ‘bored’ by the length of his absence.

John Stones last played against Everton in the Premier League before suffering an ankle injury

The 29-year-old defender was forced to limp off and has been in recovery for the issue ever since

Stones was recently named in the FIFPRO World XI but has been restricted to just eight Premier League appearances this term

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Haaland hasn’t featured for six weeks after damaging his foot in defeat at Aston Villa and Pep Guardiola revealed that the striker had been hit with a setback earlier this month.

The return of Stones is welcome to Guardiola, however, given the absence of fellow defender Manuel Akanji.

Pep Guardiola will be buoyed by the return of both Stones and star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne

Integral to last season’s success, Stones was recently named in the FIFPRO World XI but has been restricted to just eight Premier League appearances this term with various fitness issues.