BIRMINGHAM, England — In a disappointing turn of events for Manchester City, center back John Stones suffered a new injury during their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Stones was taken off the field at halftime after making his first start in a month due to recurring foot problems. According to City manager Pep Guardiola, the initial injury reemerged during the match.

The manager has pointed to injuries as a pivotal reason behind the reigning champions’ troubling performance lately, which has seen them record nine losses in their last twelve games across all competitions.

Additionally, it was reported on Friday that Ruben Dias will be sidelined for approximately four weeks due to a muscle injury, adding to Guardiola’s concerns.

“We currently have only one fit central defender, which poses significant challenges for us,” Guardiola expressed after the match.