Kalvin Phillips transfer u-turn could make or break his Man City career

Not even a month ago, Kalvin Phillips was plotting his route back into the Manchester City side. Rodri had been sent off foolishly against Nottingham Forest, and Phillips had three games to show Pep Guardiola what he can offer City - and crucially, what he has learned.

Phillips could have left City in the summer, turning down the club's suggestion that a loan move could be beneficial. After the Forest game, he said: "I am not going to have just one season at City and just because I am not playing just say 'oh well, I have been here for a year and enjoyed it but it’s not for me'."

The midfielder vowed to break his way into the City midfield, adding: "I want to try and make a name for myself at Manchester City." Now, he seems to accept that he might not be able to do that, seemingly opening the door for a possible January exit.

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When speaking after the Forest game, Phillips said he had been waiting for an opportunity like Rodri's red card to come along. He told reporters that he never had any intention to leave in the summer, instead vowing to fight for his place at City. He called the next three games the 'biggest week' of his City career so far.

He started the first of those three games at Newcastle - a Carabao Cup tie he would likely have started regardless of Rodri's ban - and looked okay but unspectacular. That in itself was better than some previous performances, but wasn't enough to keep his place at Wolves the following weekend. Mateo Kovacic started at Molineux, as did pantomime villain Matheus Nunes, and when Nunes was replaced at half-time, youngster Oscar