Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed he had no choice but to have Phillips operated on for a recurring shoulder injury that has hampered the player’s availability this season.
The defensive midfielder joined the Etihad from Leeds in the summer for £45million but is yet to start for the Citizens and has only made three substitute appearances so far, adding up to just 13 minutes of football.
And after injuring his shoulder again in August’s friendly against Barcelona, Phillips missed City’s win at Wolves last Saturday.
‘I do not know [how long he will be out] “I’m not a doctor,” Guardiola said.
“But in a good way he can get to the World Cup. The doctor said the only solution right now was to do what he had to do. It won’t be long now, but a little longer.
“Every time it’s outside [the shoulder]it’s out and the doctors say that if the shoulder is out three or four times the only solution is surgery.
Earlier in the week, Phillips was called up in England’s squad for upcoming Nations League games against Italy and Germany, the last internationals before the World Cup kicks off in November.
He has now officially retired and is now at risk of not making the plane to Qatar due to fitness concerns, which could seriously hurt the Three Lions’ chances of bringing football home.
The 26-year-old was voted England Player of the Year 2021 after starting every game his country en route to the Euro final and has proved a key player in Gareth Southgate’s side.
England are particularly tight in central midfield at the moment with Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson also absent through injury, leaving only Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Declan Rice and James Ward-Prowse in the Three Lions squad.
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