Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said midfielder Kalvin Phillips will not be allowed to play for the club until he recovers.
Phillips was reported to be overweight after returning from the World Cup and the 27-year-old was not included in the squad that beat Liverpool 3-2 in the thrilling Carabao Cup clash on Thursday.
Summer signing without appearances
Leeds United’s £42m summer signing has featured in just 4 appearances for City having missed action with a shoulder injury.
With the World Cup now over and the Premier League set to resume on Boxing Day, Guardiola had initially said Phillips was out of shape and had not arrived from Qatar in the best condition to train.
The midfielder is now said to be overweight and will not be considered for selection. Also, Phillips won’t be allowed to train with the rest of the team either until he addresses conditioning himself. Guardiola said: “He is not injured, he came (back) overweight.”
Phillips no playing time
Phillips has played just 54 minutes for the reigning Premier League champions and his inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man World Cup squad had caught the eye of many.
The defensive midfielder made two substitute appearances for the Three Lions playing a combined 40-minute game against Wales and Senegal.
Guardiola said he was not sure why Phillips had returned to City on unacceptable terms. He said, “I don’t know [why he returned overweight. He didn’t arrive in the condition to do training sessions and to play.
On being asked if England were responsible the City manager said, “No, no, no, no. Absolutely [not]. When he’s ready, he’ll play, because we need him, we need him a lot.”
City restart their Premier League campaign by traveling to Leeds United, Phillips’ former employer, on Boxing Day. Guardiola’s team is second in the standings behind leaders Arsenal by 5 points.
Photo Credit: IMAGO/PA Images
