It is no secret that Manchester City have been a dominant force across all competitions so far this season, not least because of their frightening strength in depth in the opposition third of the pitch.

However, for all the talk of Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Kevin de Bruyne and co. there has also been a noticeable improvement in their defence, with John Stones right at the heart of City’s turnaround.

The 23-year-old has been a majestic figure in the middle of the back-line, leading Pep Guardiola’s side to seven clean sheets in 12 Premier League games – or nine in 16 matches including the Champions League – and he’s tightened up his game after coming in for some criticism last season.

Yet, City’s title credentials could be set for their first real test after the England international was forced off during the 2-0 win away at Leicester City on Saturday after sustaining a hamstring injury.

It means that Stones will be on the side-lines for at least six weeks, potentially missing all of the festive fixtures over a busy December, and it represents the loss of a key part of the Blues’ jigsaw.

With Vincent Kompany only just returning from an injury lay-off himself and Eliaquim Mangala having very little playing time under his belt in recent years, the onus could fall onto the shoulders of Nicolas Otamendi to keep the defence as tight and disciplined as it has been since the season began.

The 29-year-old Argentinian may have been another player to come under scrutiny last season for numerous individual errors but, like Stones, he’s ironed these out of his game and played far better.

In the Premier League alone he averages more defensive actions that any of his Manchester City teammates (six), making 48 clearances and 20 interceptions in 971 minutes of top-flight action since August, and it is this defensive prowess that has earnt him 13 points under the ‘Kante Rule’ already.

Otamendi is actually the highest-scoring City defender in the Draft Fantasy game at the time of writing too, finding himself inside the top-ten defenders with 69 points, and a lot of that is down to the threat that he possesses from set-pieces as he has already found the net twice in the league.

Considering that, out of the nine league matches to be played between now and January, City only face two top-six rivals (Manchester United and Tottenham), there’s potential for some clean sheets.

And with Stones facing a lengthy spell on the side-lines there’s no better alternative than his City teammate, with Guardiola’s side looking to continue their momentum and their long winning run.