Kalvin Phillips was absent from the matchday squad as Manchester City thrashed Bournemouth 4-0 on Saturday afternoon. Pep Guardiola revealed in Friday’s pre-match press conference that the 26-year-old picked up a niggle that would keep him out.
With Phillips being an unused substitute in the Community Shield defeat to Liverpool, a late substitute in the 2-0 win over West Ham United and an absentee against Bournemouth, he’s not having a dream start to life at the Etihad.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
Phillips’ last two seasons at Leeds were injury-laden, missing 9/38 Premier League games in 2020/21 and missing 18/38 league outings in 2021/22, so Guardiola will be hoping he can shake these niggles off. It doesn’t bode well that the England international has picked up a knock without playing any football, however.
He’s amassed less than 1% of the available minutes in all competitions, but there are plenty more games to come. City next face Newcastle on August 21, so Phillips has another week to recover. And with a Champions League clash with Barcelona coming days after, Guardiola may need to use his squad depth to avoid tiring players out.
Champions league clash? Do you mean a charitable friendly?