Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany remains convinced that fellow centre-back John Stones "has everything" he needs to thrive at the Premier League's elite level.
The former Everton player endured a rough first season at the Etihad following his £47.5 million transfer last summer, but Kompany says that the 22-year-old is on track to be a key cog in Pep Guardiola's side.
"He will thrive once the team gets going again," Kompany told the Manchester Evening News. "He has everything the manager likes -- that ability to play from the back.
"But he also recognises how important it is for him to win his challenges, win his physical battles, and he has improved a lot in that.
"I just reckon it's always hard to put the emphasis on a young defender, because I know how technical this job is.
"Communication is the biggest part of defending. People underestimate it constantly, but I think you can be 40 percent better just by communicating.
"I suppose he will get the grasp of that over the years, and it will make him a leader as well."
Finding a centre-back to play alongside the Belgium international has been an issue for Man City over a number of seasons. Big-money deals for Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi have failed to fill the breach, but Kompany has backed Stones to prove his doubters wrong next season.
"It's about finding a balance -- Stonesy has everything to achieve all these things but you shouldn't underestimate how difficult it is for any defender to come in and do both sides of the job, in the Premier League particularly.
"Anyone who shows signs of good performances as a centre-back in that position will have to be pretty special, and that is what the club is after."