Kalvin Phillips is back on the pitch for Manchester City! After a long wait of 645 days, the England international made an appearance in the Carabao Cup match against Huddersfield, much to the delight of his teammate Erling Haaland.
Haaland's Yorkshire Pirlo Shoutout
Haaland, who wasn't in the squad for the Huddersfield game, took to Snapchat to celebrate Phillips' return. He affectionately dubbed Phillips "Yorkshire Pirlo," a nod to the legendary Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo. This shows the strong bond between the two players, who both joined City in the same transfer window.
Phillips replaced Nico Gonzalez in the 83rd minute, slotting into his familiar defensive midfield role. While his future at City remains uncertain, with a potential move in the winter transfer window, Pep Guardiola seems willing to utilize him as a squad player for now.
Guardiola's Plan for Phillips
Guardiola has also commented on Phillips' situation, acknowledging his recent injury setback. Phillips underwent Achilles surgery, delaying his return. While he missed the Huddersfield game due to his partner expecting their second child, Guardiola hasn't ruled out further appearances this season. "He's coming back, training with us and we will see what happens," Guardiola stated. "He's coming from surgery so now has to make training sessions and maybe some minutes in some games."
The City manager also mentioned the numerous injuries affecting the squad, including Mateo Kovacic and Erling Haaland. Despite these challenges, Guardiola aims to rotate the squad and give players like Phillips opportunities to prove themselves.
The pair have a solid record together, winning 11, drawing two, and losing only one match when playing alongside each other. Can Phillips use this opportunity to cement his place in the City squad? Only time will tell!