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Kalvin Phillips was back in the Manchester City team for the first time in 21 months as he played in the win against Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup.
Kalvin Phillips travelled back from London on the morning of Manchester City's Carabao Cup win against Huddersfield Town to make his first appearance for the club in almost two years.
The 29-year-old was in the capital on Tuesday as his partner Ashleigh gave birth to the couple's second child, a baby boy called Ari, but he returned to Manchester on Wednesday morning to be part of a City squad for the first time since December 2023.
Phillips' epic journey was rewarded with seven minutes off the bench as he continued his unlikely renaissance at the Etihad. His City career looked over in the summer when his No. 4 shirt was handed to Tijjani Reijnders, but the £42million midfielder has been included in the club's Premier League squad.
After disappointing loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich, this was Phillips' first appearance for City since the Club World Cup semi-final 21 months ago.
He was jeered by the Huddersfield fans for his Leeds United connections and was then ushered out of the back door of the Accu Stadium to return to London on Wednesday night to be with his family.
"It’s a good moment," said Guardiola. "Yesterday he was a father to Ari Phillips and he came this morning from London and is now going back to London to his wife and the kids.
"He came back for a few minutes because we didn’t know the position but the game was controlled. They didn’t make a lot of efforts in behind and that was really good."
Phillips was happy to just be back out on the pitch for City and it was another encouraging night for Phil Foden, who scored one and created the other from an attacking midfield position in the 2-0 success against the League One outfit.
"Phil when playing that position is a real threat," said Guardiola. "We would like to score the second goal and make the substitutions before for Nico O’Reilly and Phil, because they played a tough game against Arsenal but they are young, they have good vitamins during the days, and now we come back to Manchester and prepare for Burnley.
"We have seen already Phil in the last few games and when the team plays better every player makes his potential but it’s not just today - the games against Arsenal, Napoli and United he was really good.
"He can play in the pockets perfectly but when he plays a little bit free and he gives you something unique."
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