Duffy: Stones benefited from Moyes departure

Former Everton defender and Brighton and Hove Albion defender Shane Duffy believes Roberto Martinez’s arrival at Everton was crucial for John Stones’ development.

David Moyes’ Everton exit was the best thing to happen to John Stones’ career, according to his former team-mate Shane Duffy.

Moyes signed Stones from Barnsley in 2013, before moving on to coach Manchester United later that year.

The two were at Goodison Park together, with Duffy initially ahead of Stones in the pecking order.

The centre-back is now the most expensive English defender of all time having joined Manchester City for £47.5million this summer, and Duffy suggests he was only allowed to flourish under Moyes’ successor, Roberto Martinez.

“I got on well with him [Stones],” Brighton and Hove Albion’s Duffy said. “He signed and we played a lot in the reserves together.

“You could tell straight away he was a very good player. The best thing for him probably was Moyes leaving. He developed under Martinez into the kind of player he has become, played him at right-back. Moyes wanted more of a defender.

“That’s one of the reasons I had to leave. He was that good and he was obviously ahead of me. There are no hard feelings about that. I hope he goes on to do well.”