There has been a fair amount of bad luck during the first six months of Kalvin Phillips’ career at Manchester City. The injuries started in August and have plagued him ever since.
Pep Guardiola banishing him from training for returning overweight is an altogether separate issue.
It started relatively brightly, with Phillips being eased into pre-season while on tour in America. On the pitch, he flitted between central midfield and centre half in a way that surely won Guardiola’s approval.
Purchased for £42million from Leeds, England’s Player of the Year in 2021 was aware he would initially be an understudy to Rodri, with City also confident in playing them as a pair or pushing Phillips to a No 8 position when required.