Pep Guardiola has told Kalvin Phillips to be prepared to contribute to the end of Manchester City's season as the Blues aim for an historic Treble.
Wednesday's win over West Ham brings the side to within nine matches of winning the biggest three competitions on offer to Premier League sides, and City can move closer to one of those trophies by beating Phillips' old side Leeds on Saturday. Whether he is on the pitch against his former club remains to be seen though.
Phillips has struggled to make an impact all year since his £45m switch from Elland Road, and was an unused substitute in the reverse fixture having been left out of City's previous match after Guardiola branded him 'overweight' following his return from the World Cup. His only two starts of the season have both come in cup competitions, with 38 minutes the most he has played in a league game.
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When it was put to Guardiola that Phillips would be keen to face his former club, the manager replied: "I'm sure he will be. He is always ready just as every player is ready.
"We arrive at the end of the season and the doctors, physios, sports scientists make an incredible job to have the players fit and available. We arrive with almost all the players ready, it's really important."
Asked if Phillips could expect more game time between now and the end of the season, Guardiola responded: "Everyone has to be ready. The contribution of everyone will be important, whether it is a lot of minutes or a few minutes."
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