Man City news: Agbonlahor issues emphatic Kalvin Phillips claim as statement imminent
Kalvin Phillips has to be in the England World Cup squad despite his lack of minutes for Man City, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed the lack of defensive midfielders is the reason Phillips needs to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
The 25-year-old has only played just one minute of Premier League football for Man City since his £45million move from Leeds United in the summer.
He told the BBC on Monday (7 November) that he is “hopeful” of being in the squad as he is progressing really well in his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Asked whether he thought Phillips should be in the England squad due to be announced on Thursday (10 November), Agbonlahor told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley: “I do, yes.
“We are not blessed with defensive midfielders. The three are Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice and Phillips.
“Phillips is a lot younger and has more legs than Henderson so he has to be in it. He was so influential at the Euros with Rice.
“If you’re in the knockout stages you might want a five at the back with Rice and Phillips sitting and three forwards. Or, four at the back with two sitters, Bellingham in front and three up front.
“It just gives more protection to our shaky back line so he has to go.
“Southgate will know that. If he had another top defensive midfielder, he wouldn’t even think of taking Phillips because of a lack of game time but he knows he hasn’t got enough people to play in that role.
“If Phillips was a left winger, he’s not going, if he was a right-back, he’s not going and if he was a forward he’s not going with that lack of game time.
“It’s a position where we haven’t got a lot of cover.”
In other news, Man City may be set to “spite Liverpool” and sign Jude Bellingham after a source reveal.