Kalvin Phillips has so far suffered an unpleasant start to his Manchester City career, as Pep Guardiola has constantly left him out of his selection. He was eventually fielded against Crvena Zvezda, where he scored his first goal for the club, and injured Erling Haaland sent his love to him.
Erling Haaland himself would have featured in the 2–2 win over Crvena Zvezda, but he had to be sidelined due to an injury he picked up in the defeat to Aston Villa. The City striker is recovering but his return date remains uncertain.
Erling Haaland sends message in support for Kalvin Phillips
Phillips scored his first goal for Manchester City from the penalty spot during the Champions League group stage match. Haaland, who was unable to play due to injury, sent a supportive message to Phillips after witnessing his teammate’s goal.
Kalvin Philips has been struggling for game time at Manchester City, but on Wednesday he made a rare start in their Champions League game week 6 fixture, scoring his first goal for City.
Phillips’ limited playing time has led to speculation about his future at City, with the possibility of a move in the January transfer window to secure more regular playing opportunities. Guardiola has acknowledged the need for more minutes for Phillips and apologized for not selecting him more often.
The midfielder’s potential departure could be influenced by his desire for consistent playing time, especially with an eye on earning a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad. Kalvin Philips is said to be drawing interest from various clubs. Newcastle, Juventus, and Manchester United are among the clubs reportedly interested in the midfielder.
Erling Haaland injury update
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, offered an injury update on Erling Haaland but did not disclose whether the striker would be available for the upcoming match against Crystal Palace.
Pep Guardiola confirmed that Erling Haaland did not travel with the Manchester City squad for their recent Premier League match against Luton Town due to a bone injury. Guardiola also provided information about when Haaland is expected to resume training.
While speaking to reporters, Pep Guardiola expressed that:
“He will be back on Thursday, day after tomorrow, and we see how he feels. I cannot answer [if he can play on Saturday], I don’t know right now. The next press conference I can be more precise about his condition.”
Pep Guardiola mentioned that Erling Haaland’s condition had improved rapidly since Sunday when he stated that the Norwegian striker could hardly walk after the Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
Should Kalvin Philips move out of Man City to see more in-game time? Tell us in the comments.
