Kalvin Phillips wants to stay at Manchester City despite making only two Premier League starts this season – both once the title had been won.
The midfielder has promised to “come back fighting” and takes heart from how others have needed a year to adapt to Pep Guardiola’s methods.
Phillips joined City from Leeds for an initial £42m last July but started only two games of any consequence: an FA Cup win at Bristol City and Carabao Cup defeat at Southampton.
He was accused by Guardiola of being “overweight” and not in condition to train or play after returning from the World Cup. Phillips said after scoring for England against North Macedonia as a substitute on Monday that only another season of inactivity would prompt him to consider his City future. “My intention is to stay there,” he said. “We have just won the treble, so there is no reason for me to leave, other than if I am not playing I will obviously have to think about it.