Kalvin Phillips is facing World Cup heartache after a recurrence of a nagging shoulder injury.
The Manchester City midfielder is sweating on the prognosis as the clock ticks down towards the tournament in Qatar in seven weeks’ time. Phillips, 26, has been dogged by problems ever since agreeing to move to the Premier League champions from boyhood club Leeds United during the summer in a £45million deal.
He has played just 13 minutes for Pep Guardiola’s side and matters have come to a head. Medics have told the City boss that Phillips might need to undergo surgery to correct the problem, meaning he will be withdrawn from Gareth Southgate’s squad for England’s Nations League double-header against Italy and Germany.
Southgate is likely to give Phillips every chance to make the plane for the Middle East in November. But there are just seven weeks to go before he names his squad and there have to be questions asked about whether the midfielder will be match-fit.
His final campaign at Leeds was disrupted hugely by injury and his move to the champions has not gone as planned.
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Losing Phillips would be a huge blow for Southgate following the midfielder’s heroics during the European Championships. He played a crucial role in the Three Lions’ march to the final against Italy and was heralded for his performance alongside West Ham ’s Declan Rice.
He was voted England’s player of the year afterwards and his potential loss will be a huge blow to the country’s World Cup preparations.
