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England manager Gareth Southgate has cast doubts over Kalvin Phillips’ inclusion in the Three Lions World Cup squad this winter. Phillips joined Manchester City from Leeds this summer but injured himself in a charity friendly against Barcelona last month and has managed just 14 minutes of action for the Premier League champions.
Phillips was a key player for England during Euro 2020 and started every match of the competition as his country were beaten by Italy in the final following a penalty shootout. But the dynamic midfielder has featured in just five of Southgate’s starting teams in the Three Lions’ subsequent 14 matches amid an array of injury problems.
Phillips was absent for England’s 1-0 Nations League defeat to Italy on Friday night as the team suffered relegation from the top tier of the competition. And after the match, Southgate hinted the 26-year-old may not be ready for the Qatar tournament.
“There’s the recovery from the surgery – which is an estimated time – and then there’s the reality of how much football he might have and how much football he’s had in the last eight weeks,” explained the former defender.
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Phillips’ absence is clearly not ideal for Southgate, although Jude Bellingham took his opportunity to shine on Friday night following a string of fine performances for Borussia Dortmund. And the 19-year-old may have already jumped above Phillips in Southgate’s pecking order.
Southgate is coming under increasing pressure after a run of five matches without a win. But the 52-year-old has insisted he’s the right man to lead England at the World Cup. “I think I’m the right person to take the team into the tournament,” Southgate said after his team’s defeat in Milan.
“I understand the job. It is what football management is. Whenever you have a difficult run of results, it is always going to be the manager who deals with it. That’s the job and I’ve got to get on with it. I’ve seen every other England manager have it. So I wasn’t, and never have been, carried away by praise. I know how the game is. It turns so quic kly but you’re judged by results, and that’s that.”
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