Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Kalvin Phillips will start for Manchester City in Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round clash against Newcastle United at St James' Park.
Phillips has experienced a challenging first 14 months at the Etihad Stadium since joining from Leeds United in July 2022, starting just four of his 24 appearances for the Citizens in all competitions.
The 27-year-old midfielder has been reduced to just two starts in 14 Premier League matches, and has played a total of 347 minutes of top-flight football; the England international has remarkably played more minutes (401) under Gareth Southgate in the same period than at club level.
Injuries and the exceptional form of key lynchpin Rodri have been the main factors behind Phillips's lack of game time for Man City, and the midfielder has been linked with a possible exit from the club as a result amid reported interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham United.
However, now that Rodri will serve a three-game domestic suspension following his red card for violent conduct in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend, Phillips has a rare opportunity to impress Guardiola and stake a claim for regular first-team football.
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Phillips, who came on as a second-half substitute against Forest following Rodri's red card, is yet to start a game in any tournament for Man City so far this season, but Guardiola has confirmed that the midfielder will be named in the first XI against Newcastle on Wednesday.
"Yeah, [Phillips] will start," Guardiola said at a press conference on Tuesday, "Of course (this is a chance for Phillips), 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 (Forest), it was more defensive, resilient, and he helped us breathe.
"The important thing 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."
Phillips could be joined in midfield by summer signing Mateo Kovacic, as Guardiola has confirmed that the Croatian will feature in some capacity against Newcastle, as will Jack Grealish.
Kovacic has missed the last three games in all competitions due to a muscle issue in his back, while Grealish came on as a late substitute in the win over Forest after missing three games with a knee injury.
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"Jack is much better, Mateo as well," said Guardiola. "I don't know how many minutes, from the beginning or second half, but they're going to play minutes (against Newcastle)."
Man City will be without Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), John Stones (muscle) and Bernardo Silva (leg) through injury, though, and Guardiola has labelled the club's early-season injury woes as an "exceptional situation".
"I don't think about (the injuries) much, it's just what's next which is Newcastle," the Catalan boss added. "Now is an exceptional situation. A lot of players are injured and a lot have played a lot of minutes and they have to rest.
"Tomorrow's game is important but so is Arsenal and RB Leipzig. I have to take into consideration the effort in this period and the injuries or we're going to be in trouble."
Man City are looking to win their ninth successive game in all competitions and progress to the EFL Cup fourth round when they face a Newcastle outfit who thumped Sheffield United 8-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Magpies are dealing with injury issues of their own, as Harvey Barnes is facing "months rather than weeks" on the sidelines with a foot injury, according to manager Eddie Howe, while Joelinton (knee) and Joe Willock (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.
Oliver Thomas
