Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips has “improved his level” and could play in the FA Cup third round against Chelsea on Sunday, manager Pep Guardiola has said.
Guardiola criticized Phillips for to be overweight on his return from the England World Cup in December.
Phillips, a £45million signing from Leeds last summer, played less than 10 minutes in the Premier League for City.
“I had the feeling last week that he was back,” Guardiola said.
“Maybe it will be a good lesson for him for the future. I have the feeling that a football player has to be, for 12 months, perfect. Even on vacation, you have to be perfect.
“You can enjoy, you can do whatever you want, but you have to be ready because this level is so demanding. You have to play every three days, you have to be fit, and when you’re not fit, nothing .
“Over the past week or days he has improved his level. In the Carabao Cup (quarter-final against Southampton on Wednesday) he will play and on Sunday we will see.”
City beat an exhausted Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the league on Thursday.
Although City are likely to be without Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias in defense at the Etihad Stadium, Chelsea could be without 10 first-team players.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” said coach Graham Potter, whose side have lost five of their last eight matches in all competitions.
“There are challenges we face, there are margins in the Premier League which are tough, but we’ve had a massive transition and injury issues which don’t help stability.”
Midfielder Mason Mount could return with a practice ground kick, but Raheem Sterling, N’Golo Kante, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic are among the absentees.
