Barnsley boss David Flitcroft has no doubts John Stones will be a huge hit at Everton.

Flitcroft has admitted that selling Stones was "like losing a member of your own family".

He said: "On Wednesday, I was pretty confident that we would keep John.

"But then I got a call on Thursday morning to say that he would probably be leaving. To be honest, I am numb. It is like losing a member of your own family. I was asked if I could replace him, and the ­answer was 'No.' How do you ­replace the best young ­defender in England?

"There is nobody out there as good as John, and that is why clubs were prepared to pay £3million for him."