England receive injury boost as Man City star returns to training ahead of World Cup

England have received an injury boost ahead of the World Cup in Qatar as Kalvin Phillips returned to Manchester City training on Monday. The midfielder has been unavailable for the Sky Blues since he featured in their Champions League group-stage clash with Borussia Dortmund on September 14.

The 26-year-old, who joined City from Leeds United in the summer for £45m, required an operation on his shoulder due to a recurring problem. He had successful surgery for the issue during the recent international break and has been recovering ‘really well’, according to Sky Blues’ boss Pep Guardiola.

“Kalvin is incredibly much better as well,” the Catalan said in his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of City’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion, “He is recovering really well.”

As per Joe Bray from the Manchester Evening News, Phillips was working individually away from the rest of the Sky Blues squad while he continues his recovery from surgery. Bray also confirmed that fellow England international Kyle Walker was absent from training. The defender recently had an operation on his groin and is a doubt for the World Cup as a result.

City take on Borussia Dortmund in their fifth Champions League group-stage fixture of the season, their second against the German club, and will also be without full-back Sergio Gomez. The Spaniard is unavailable through suspension after receiving a red card in their 0-0 draw with Copenhagen in the Sky Blues’ last European fixture.

Guardiola’s team were victorious against Dortmund when they welcomed the Bundesliga side to the Etihad Stadium in mid-September thanks to late goals from John Stones and Erling Haaland. City remain unbeaten in the group-stage of the competition this season, winning three of their opening four Champions League games and drawing one.