Robinson issues ‘massive’ Kalvin Phillips verdict after Man City picture emerges
Paul Robinson is over the moon to hear Kalvin Phillips will get minutes for Man City prior to the World Cup.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Leeds United goalkeeper said the news is “massive” considering the 26-year-old’s importance for England.
Phillips has played just 13 minutes of football for Man City this season.
The centre-midfielder has been sidelined since September because of a shoulder injury.
As pictured on his personal Twitter (1 November), Phillips returned to training this week.
As quoted by the Daily Mail (28 October), Pep Guardiola revealed the summer signing could get “some minutes” before the World Cup later this month.
When asked by Football Insider for his reaction to the latest, Robinson said: “That is massive news.
“The big thing for Kalvin was, he was England’s player of the year after the Euros. He was a regular starter in that side.
“To go from that to being injured at Leeds, moving to Man City and getting injured this season, it’s been difficult. The injury has been a huge blow for him.
“People say the move has not worked but he has just been unlucky. He was never going to go in there and replace Rodri straight away. He was going to be given opportunities though. Those opportunities have been deprived because of injuries.
“Hopefully he gets himself right now before the World Cup. At the moment, it looks like it is going to be Jude [Bellingham] and Declan [Rice]. It will be a huge task for Kalvin to get into that reckoning. He has to get himself fit and into that City team.”
In other news, a pundit expects Joao Cancelo to commit his long-term future to Man City after stance confirmed.