Manchester City travel to Signal Iduna Park to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, but Pep Guardiola will once again be without Kalvin Phillips.
The 26-year-old hasn’t played since mid-September due to a shoulder injury and it doesn’t appear he’s close to returning after being left out of the 21-man travelling squad for City’s Dortmund clash.
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Phillips had surgery on a shoulder injury in September and has missed City’s last eight games in all competitions, so he will need time to build up his match fitness when he returns.
The England international has only made three appearances across the board since joining from Leeds United and faces a race to be fit in time for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Given the fitness woes and lack of football, however, it remains to be seen if Gareth Southgate would pick him. Guardiola has said that he hopes Phillips will return in time for the tournament, but he won’t be rushed back.
Pep has enough in his absence though as Rodri has made the position his own since joining in 2019. The 26-year-old is in the travelling squad and hasn’t put much of a foot wrong this season, so he should anchor the midfield against Dortmund.
In other news, Liam Delap underwhelmed for Stoke City in Saturday’s defeat
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