MANCHESTER – In a boost for England manager Gareth Southgate, his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola said midfielder Kalvin Phillips will return to their squad for Wednesday’s League Cup clash against Chelsea.
The 26-year-old, who has regularly partnered Declan Rice in Southgate’s midfield, has been plagued by a shoulder injury that required surgery and has kept him out of action since September.
The England international also had injury issues last season, playing just 23 times for Leeds. Since joining City in July, he has played just 14 minutes for the Citizens.
In more good news for Southgate, Guardiola said England right-back Kyle Walker – who is also recovering after surgery for a groin injury – was feeling much better.
“Yesterday was the second day Kalvin did a full training session with contact with us and he felt good,” said Guardiola, after a 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday.
“Against Chelsea he will be on the bench, whether to play or not I don’t know but... Kalvin is much better. I spoke with Kyle and he feels good too, but his surgery was later than Kalvin’s, that’s why I don’t know.”
The news of the duo’s progress will come as a boost for Southgate before he names his World Cup squad on Thursday. Chelsea fullback Ben Chilwell will miss the tournament due to a hamstring injury, while teammate Reece James has been ruled out for eight weeks due to a knee issue.
The England manager also has other types of selection headaches. Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers said his playmaker James Maddison should be in Southgate’s World Cup squad after another excellent all-round attacking display in their 2-0 Premier League win over Everton on Saturday.
His two assists mean he has been directly involved in 22 Premier League goals in 2022 (13 goals, nine assists); behind only Harry Kane (32), Kevin de Bruyne (29) and Son Heung-min (25).
Asked if Maddison deserved a place in the England squad, Rodgers told Sky Sports: “It’s not a debate. That’s the reality.
“I respect there are so many top players, so many attacking players, doing well but, if you can’t find (a place for) a player of that quality that has produced consistently over the last 18 months as he has, then it’s obviously sad.”
In other World Cup fitness news, Bayern Munich assuaged worries that Canada star Alphonso Davies might miss the tournament after he limped off grabbing his hamstring in his side’s 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday. But Bayern said in a statement on Sunday that the 22-year-old wide player, who tore a right thigh muscle, is “not in danger” of missing the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Gareth Bale, 33, said on Saturday he was still not fully fit after his game-saving cameo helped Los Angeles FC win the MLS Cup. The Wales captain, who came off the bench in extra time, nodded home a 128th-minute equaliser to force a 3-3 draw with Philadelphia Union and set up LAFC’s penalty shoot-out win.
But Bale, whose next game will be Wales’ World Cup opener against the United States on Nov 21, said he was still not at 100 per cent after a recent leg injury. AFP, REUTERS
