Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Kalvin Phillips is set to start against Newcastle United on Wednesday night.
Speaking in his press conference (via Manchester Evening News) ahead of the much-awaited Carabao Cup clash, he was quizzed about whether the £42 million (The Athletic) man could get a chance.
Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips is now in line to start against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
Pep Guardiola confirms Kalvin Phillips will start for Manchester City against Newcastle
Branded as ‘intelligent’ by Guardiola himself, the Englishman could finally be handed his big break after Rodri’s three-match suspension.
Considering how exceptional the Spaniard has been to City’s fortunes for the past two seasons, it would have been impossible for any other defensive midfielder to take his place.
But as Rodri is unavailable against Newcastle, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that Kalvin Phillips is set for a starting berth.
“Yeah of course, but not just this week for many, many times since he arrived, he’s been really important. His consistency, he does everything in the game what happened against Nottingham, it was more defensive, resilient, defend and he helped us breathe.”
“The important is when you act in the smaller spaces, we try to help him. The game tomorrow is important and every single game, I’ll decide what’s best for the team.”
It is now or never for Kalvin Phillips
With Manchester City lynchpin Rodri continuing where he left off from last season, it seems like Kalvin Phillips has no choice but to impress Pep Guardiola against Newcastle.
If not, it would not be a surprise to see the Catalan boss experiment with either Matheus Nunes or Mateo Kovacic in the No.6 role against Wolves to test out their displays ahead of their trip to face Arsenal in October.
By the time Rodri returns against Brighton, Kalvin Phillips is expected to witness proceedings from the sidelines.
As a result, if Phillips fails to rise the occasion, it would not be a surprise to see City decide to let him go once and for all.
