Man City in ‘major Kalvin Phillips U-turn’ as Pep Guardiola makes call on forgotten man | Football | Sport

Manchester City could be on the brink of a major U-turn involving forgotten man Kalvin Phillips. The midfielder joined the Blues in 2022 as part of a whopping £45million transfer from Leeds United.

But no sooner had the midfielder walked through the Etihad Stadium door than disaster struck. An early-season injury required Phillips to undergo surgery and by the time he returned to full fitness, it was time for the mid-season World Cup in Qatar. By the time Phillips returned from England duty, his City career already felt dead in the water.

City boss Pep Guardiola criticised Phillips’ physical condition upon his return, with Phillips finishing the season with just 21 appearances to his name. By the time the following January had rolled around, he had been shipped out on loan to West Ham United, before spending the 2024/25 campaign at Ipswich Town.

Heading into this year’s summer transfer window, there was a suggestion that the writing was on the wall for Phillips, who was expected to leave on a permanent deal. That didn’t transpire, but it looks as if he could be about to be given an unexpected lifeline by Guardiola and co.

It’s reported by The Telegraph that City are set to name Phillips in their 25-man squad for the 2025/26 Premier League season. It would represent a departure from their initial plan for the Yorkshireman and perhaps give Phillips a chance to resurrect his City career. The 29-year-old hasn’t played since May, but it’s claimed Phillips could be given a chance in matchday squads by Guardiola.

Phillips was pictured in City training earlier this week, and with a busy schedule of matches on the horizon, could help take the load off the Blues’ starting midfielders. Alternatively, City have a gap at right-back in the squad and given Guardiola’s success at turning midfielders into fullbacks, perhaps that’s where his future lies?

City return to Premier League action this weekend when Manchester United make the visit to the Etihad Stadium. In three matches last season, Guardiola failed to get the better of Ruben Amorim once, with suggestions that the Portuguese tactician has got his Catalan counterpart’s number.

The 2023 Treble winners can’t afford any more slip-ups though, given they’ve already lost three matches this season. United meanwhile, enter the derby ahead of City in the table.