With eight weeks to go until England's first game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Kalvin Phillips is facing a race to be fit for the Three Lions.
And with less than one month before Southgate names his provisional squad, the Manchester City midfielder will be hoping to be in contention following surgery on a persistent shoulder injury. After missing this month's internationals to have that surgery, England boss Gareth Southgate has hinted Phillips may miss the World Cup altogether.
Since signing for City in the summer from Leeds for £41million, Phillips has played just one minute of Premier League action and 12 minutes in the Champions League. He injured his shoulder in a mid-season friendly at Barcelona, which now requires surgery.
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In fact, since mid-December, Phillips has started only six Premier League games and missed 19 with various injuries. Now, City have taken the decision to put Phillips through surgery to fix his latest shoulder issue, with his recovery time said to be around six weeks.
All being well, that would see him ready to return after Southgate names his provisional squad for the World Cup, and with just one week to prove his fitness before the final 26-strong squad is submitted a week before the tournament starts.
And Southgate admits time is against Phillips, especially considering his lack of football in 2022 so far.
Asked about Phillips' chances of being in contention for the World Cup, Southgate said: "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."
When Phillips' setback was confirmed, City boss Pep Guardiola said he felt Phillips could definitely make the World Cup, saying: "I don’t know [how long he will be out for], I am not a doctor but in a good way he can arrive of course the World Cup. I think so but I am not a doctor. The doctor says the only solution right now is to do what we have to do."
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