Kalvin Phillips: England midfielder has 'to make a decision' on Manchester City future

Last season, Kalvin Phillips only began playing in the Premier League twice.

Kalvin Phillips, who plays as a midfielder for Manchester City, has announced that he will be deciding on his future with the team.

Phillips has found it difficult to secure a place in the City squad ever since he joined from Leeds. He has only made three short appearances as a sub in the Premier League this season.

Following his appearance in Tuesday's impressive 3-1 triumph over Italy, he acknowledged the importance of regular game time and consistent competition on a weekly basis.

"In the upcoming months, I'll have to come to a conclusion about what lies ahead for me."

Even though he hasn't played much for his club after being bought for £45 million in July 2022, the 27-year-old has still earned the trust of England coach Gareth Southgate. He was in the starting lineup for the Three Lions' 3-1 victory over Italy in the Euro 2024 qualifier on Tuesday, securing their spot in next year's tournament with two games remaining.

During the match against the Azzurri, he was substituted by Jordan Henderson at the 69th minute. He also acknowledged that he was "quite lucky" to not receive a red card. He had already received a yellow card during the 9th minute but did not face any additional penalty after making a late tackle on Nicolo Barella during the second half.

As England defeated Australia 1-0 in a friendly match at Wembley on Friday, Phillips was brought onto the field from the substitutes' bench to play for some time.

Phillips commented that Gareth Southgate had informed him that in order for him to maintain his position, he must participate in matches.

"That's my goal. I have come to an agreement with Gareth about it."

On the other hand, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, expressed some disapproval towards Phillips during his first season. He implied that the midfielder had gained excess weight after coming back from playing for England in the 2022 World Cup.

In the previous Premier League season, Phillips played as a starting player in just two games. He played a total of 290 minutes in 12 appearances in the top league. However, he managed to play in 21 games across all competitions when City won the Treble.

Phillips was predicted to play a significant role in the squad this season as Rodri was suspended for three games after receiving a red card in the match against Nottingham Forest in September. Despite this, Phillips was only included in the starting lineup once during this period. Unfortunately, City ended up losing that game 1-0 against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.

Phillips stated: "My desire is to participate in football and be involved in it as frequently as I can."

During the past eighteen months, I have been unable to accomplish that task because of wounds and different situations. This is a matter that necessitates my contemplation.

I hope that I get an opportunity, but if not, I will need to consider alternative options.

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