John Stones and Man City team-mates bring Christmas cheer in visit to local hospital… as defender admits his side must shore up at the back if they want to be world champions

• City will head to Saudi Arabia next week to compete to win the Club World Cup
• They conceded 10 goals in four games while Stones was sidelined through injury
• CHRIS SUTTON: I was RIGHT to call Man United players ‘snakes’ last week – IAKO

John Stones admitted that Manchester City must shore up defensively if they want to make history over the festive period.

Stones has recently returned from injury after a month out in which City conceded 10 goals in four games but his re-emergence should see Pep Guardiola’s side tighten up at the back.

City are in Belgrade for a Champions League dead rubber against Red Star on Wednesday evening and host Crystal Palace at the weekend before jetting off for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

City do not find out their semi-final opponents until later in the week and kick off their tournament next Tuesday.

‘To be able to have the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the Super Cup and the Club World Cup next to each other in our cabinet would a dream come true and a historic moment,’ Stones said.

John Stones and some of his Manchester City team-mates visited a local hospital to provide some Christmas cheer

Stones posed for photos with patients at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in Manchester, also delivering gifts

Jack Grealish was also on hand to pay a visit to patients as part of City’s ‘Greatest Season of All’ Christmas campaign

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‘We’re excited to go there and give it everything to try and become world champions, knowing it will be extremely tough against some top sides.

‘We know we have been conceding too many goals and that has cost us points already this season. We’re not giving up any big chances, so it’s a frustrating one.

‘But that’s just football and the Premier League. We know as a team we need to take the chances we are creating and need to defend better.’

Stones has endured a frustrating campaign so far, missing the first two months with a muscle problem that inflamed again. He’s only started four league matches.

The 29-year-old visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital as part of City’s ‘Greatest Season of All’ Christmas campaign, which has raised more than £200,000 towards community projects for young people in Greater Manchester.

The campaign has raised more than £200,000 towards community projects for young people in Greater Manchester

Players donated gift bags and blankets to children from the Treble winners in their visit – and enjoyed some table football

Some patients were overwhelmed by seeing their heroes but were made up by the surprise

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Stones was among those on hand to donate gift bags and blankets to children from the Treble winners, while the club gave £10,000 to local foodbanks, funding three thousand food parcels.

‘I’ve visited a few times now and always feel so inspired after meeting so many incredible people,’ Stones added.

‘This year has been no different and I know all of the lads are really proud to be here. I hope those memories go some way towards creating a special Christmas for them all.

‘I am ready to go again after injury and we want to create more memories for our fans at the end of the season. I worked really hard to return to fitness, played some games and felt like I was performing to a good level. Then I had another setback which was difficult. But I am back now.’

City also gave £10,000 to local foodbanks, funding three thousand food parcels amid their latest visit to the hospital

While some players have visited multiple times in their City careers, it was a first visit for summer signing Jeremy Doku

City mascots also got involved in the table football, with the squad set to jet off to the Middle East after this weekend’s game against Crystal Palace

Stones admitted that Manchester City must tighten up defensively if they want to win the Club World Cup next week

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