Overview

• Phillips is not in the squad for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Huddersfield as he is in London for the imminent birth of his second child.
• He has resumed first‑team training after summer Achilles surgery, with Guardiola stressing he needs sessions and perhaps brief game time to rebuild sharpness.
• City have not used Phillips in a competitive match since December 2023 following loans to West Ham and Ipswich and the operation that blocked a summer move.
• Guardiola says a return to City matchdays remains on the table this season, though he described the prospect as unlikely at this stage.
• Injury absences are limiting rotation for the cup game, while Erling Haaland is set to sit out Huddersfield but is expected to be ready for Burnley at the weekend.