Former Chelsea star Tony Cascarino has major doubts over England midfielder Kalvin Phillips’ gametime at Manchester City next season.
The midfielder has finally got his chance to play alongside Rodri during pre-season, a full 12 months on from his arrival at the Etihad Stadium.
But Cascarino reckons it won’t be a regular thing under Pep Guardiola this term, and Phillips will be under pressure to really stun his manager with his performances to have any chance of getting regular minutes.
It comes amid links with a move away from City this summer, with Liverpool among the clubs linked earlier in the transfer window, although the player himself has stated he wants to stay.
Speaking on the Weekend Sports Breakfast this morning, Cascarino said: “If you think of the players that are picked regularly at City, Rodri is that player, and that’s the problem for Kalvin Phillips.
“He’s not going to get many opportunities, because very rarely will he play two holding midfielders. I say rarely, he’s nearly never, and he won’t do that.
“So Kalvin Phillips has to find a way, and it might be through cup games, or injury, he has to find a way of getting into that team.
“And when called upon, he’s got to be absolutely top-notch, because Rodri has been that week in, week out.”