Man City set to make shock Premier League squad decision with forgotten player included

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Manchester City have named their Premier League squad for this season and there is a shock inclusion in the 25 names.

Kalvin Phillips is set to be included in City's Premier League squad

Manchester City are set to include Kalvin Phillips in their 25-man squad submitted to the Premier League for this season, despite the midfielder not playing for the club for almost two years.

The 29-year-old was expected to leave the Etihad this summer and was even stripped of his shirt number when Tijjani Reijnders arrived from AC Milan and took the No. 4 shirt.

But Phillips has struggled to overcome an Achilles injury and ended up staying at the club beyond the end of the transfer window. He had been linked with a return to former club Leeds United earlier in the summer.

He has returned to individual training recently as he looks to work his way back to match fitness. His inclusion in the Premier League squad could offer him an unexpected chance to resurrect his City career, although he faces competition to win a place in Pep Guardiola's midfield.

Phillips last pulled on a City shirt in the Club World Cup triumph in December 2023. A month later he joined West Ham on loan and then spent last term at Ipswich Town, but neither move was particularly successful.

The England international wasn't included in City's Champions League squad, but will now be available for domestic duties. There was extra space in the Premier League squad as Oscar Bobb and Savinho are both included on the Under-21 list, but had to be registered on the main list with UEFA.

Phillips joined City in the summer of 2022 for £42million but has struggled to make an impact at the club, making just 16 appearances in the Premier League and just two starts.

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