Kalvin Phillips to make full Manchester City debut this week as Pep Guardiola rotates

Kalvin Phillips is set to make his full Manchester City debut in the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Southampton this week, according to reports.

The England international has endured a stop-start few months at the Etihad Stadium, since completing a £42 million move from Leeds United during the most recent summer transfer window.

Undergoing an operation on a persistent shoulder problem in October, Kalvin Phillips’ place at the World Cup in Qatar was thrown into doubt, and his City career was put on pause after a shoulder problem sustained in a mid-season friendly against Barcelona in August.

However, recovering in time to represent England at the tournament, Kalvin Phillips is now back in action for Manchester City, and featured in both meetings with Chelsea last week ahead of a crunch period of fixtures for the Premier League champions.

This week presents the ideal opportunity for the 27 year-old to get much-needed minutes under his belt, as Manchester City travel to the south coast to take on Nathan Jones’ Southampton.

According to the Mail, Kalvin Phillips is in line to make his full Manchester City debut on Wednesday night.

Pep Guardiola’s side take on Southampton in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, and while the City boss has not decided on his team for the contest, he is mindful of offering defensive midfield mainstay, Rodri a rest.

The relentless game time since the start of the season, both for club and country, heightened for Rodri in recent days, with the Spain international replaced during the closing stages of the Premier League meeting against Chelsea with cramp.

Fortunately for Pep Guardiola and City, the 26 year-old recovered competently to start and feature for a significant amount of the FA Cup third round tie against Graham Potter’s side, before being replaced by Kalvin Phillips in the second-half.

Phillips however, will be keen to show just what he can do, after a frustrating start to life at Manchester City, and stake a claim for a more frequent place in Pep Guardiola’s Etihad starting elevens.