Sources: Man City star Kalvin Phillips set for extended absence as Pep Guardiola fumes
Kalvin Phillips is unlikely to be involved in the next Man City clash against old club Leeds United after being axed on Thursday night, sources have told Football Insider.
The 27-year-old was overlooked for the 3-2 League Cup win over Liverpool despite the presence of the rest of England’s World Cup players on City’s substitutes’ bench.
It is believed Phillips is not expected to feature for City in their Premier League match against Leeds next Wednesday despite being fully fit.
Manager Pep Guardiola delivered a blunt reply when quizzed about the midfielder’s absence for the Liverpool match.
“He is not fit,” the City manager said. “He has not arrived in the best condition to train.”
The explanation for Phillips’ absence strongly suggests he faces a major battle to win back the favour of Guardiola for the second half of the season.
It is likely to begin with an extended spell out of the team, starting with the Leeds match that heralds the festive period for City.
Phillips made two appearances as a substitute in Qatar for England which totalled 40 minutes, having struggled with a shoulder injury in the build-up to the tournament.
Phillips has played only 54 minutes for City since a £42 million summer move from Leeds, including just one appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery in September.
Even before his injury and his current absence he was struggling for game time in an extremely competitive battle for places in City’s midfield.
Rodri has long been Guardiola’s preferred midfield anchorman and he started 13 of City’s 14 Premier League matches before the World Cup break as well as the win over Liverpool on Thursday.
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