Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is looking to get his career back on track after a difficult past couple of years.
Phillips joined Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for a reported £45 million, after impressing with Leeds United.
There were high hopes for Phillips, whose stock was seriously high at the time. He was arguably one of the top holding midfielders in the country, and a firm favourite with then-England manager Gareth Southgate.
But, as everyone knows, Phillips’ move to City did not go to plan.
He’s only made 31 appearances for the club so far, and he is now on his second loan spell with Ipswich Town, after struggling at West Ham United last term.
Today, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking about Phillips, dropping his verdict on the City man after a handful of appearances so far.
Kieran McKenna claims Kalvin Phillips is ‘important’ and is improving after making loan from Man City
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Phillips actually caught the eye for City in pre-season, playing a few times at centre-back in the US.
But it was never likely that he would stay at the club for 2024/25, given his struggles with West Ham.
City ended up loaning Phillips to Premier League new boys Ipswich. The door is not completely closed for Phillips at City according to Pep Guardiola.
But one would imagine the club will be looking to see how much they can get for him next summer, certainly if Pep is going to be sticking around.
Right now, City are hoping that Phillips can make a big impact for Ipswich – and he appears to have made a decent start at Portman Road.
McKenna said today (as quoted by TWTD): “Kalvin Phillips is settling in well and he’s enjoying it day-to-day here. He is getting fitter and every performance from him has probably been a bit stronger than the last.
“It doesn’t always work like that and it’s not always a perfect line, but we feel if he can keep working as he is, then he has a chance to work himself up to some really good form.
“He’s been important to us.
“Again that (protecting the backline) is one of Kalvin’s big, big strengths – he is very good in front of the back four. He breaks up play really well and he is very mobile in those situations and reads danger well.”
Positive remarks from McKenna on Phillips
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It is good to hear this positive verdict from McKenna on Phillips, who will be keen to keep improving at Portman Road.
His career stalled after joining City and he will be so determined to essentially make up for lost time, and potentially work his way back into the England squad under Lee Carsley.
The last couple of years cannot have been easy for him. Indeed, the player has just opened up about when Pep commented on his weight and the narrative that followed.
This is his time to get back on track now.
Being at Ipswich, there is perhaps less of a spotlight on him and therefore less pressure.
We saw last term how Ross Barkley really shone at Luton Town, and he is now playing Champions League football with Aston Villa. Phillips could do worse than to try and follow his fellow Englishman’s example.
