Pep Guardiola has apologised to midfielder Kalvin Phillips for not selecting him in the Premier League this season.

The Manchester City boss has put interested parties including Liverpool and Newcastle on red alert after admitting he ‘struggles to see him’ in the starting line up.

Phillips has spent much of the season on the bench and could be set for a move away from Manchester City in January

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Phillips has spent much of the season on the bench and could be set for a move away from Manchester City in JanuaryCredit: 2023 Getty Images

The England international has clocked up just 90 minutes of top-flight football this season and is yet to start a game in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Even with Rodri missing out through suspension for City’s midweek 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, the former Leeds man was an unused substitute as Guardiola opted for a midfield pairing of Manuel Akanji and John Stones.

The 28-year-old’s future has been called into question ahead of the upcoming January transfer window and the City boss admitted he has no idea how things will pan out for Phillips.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of City’s trip to Luton on Sunday. “I feel so sorry for my decision for him. I’ve said that many times.

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“He doesn’t deserve what has happened to him and I’m so sorry.

“The only thing I can say about him is I am asking for good personalities and characters and he is a perfect example. And after that I have to give him something and I didn’t do that.

“It’s just because I visualise some things and visualise the team and things – and I struggle to see him.

“I’m not very pleased [with myself] and I am so sorry for him. I will not say that [to him] because it is a business and I have to be a professional.

“But if one guy behaves [poorly], I don’t care. But the way he behaves with the team-mates and everyone, I care. So that’s why hopefully it can turn around.

“And I’ve said many times, if it comes to January and he stays, I’m more than pleased because he trains really good and he’s a lovely guy and character.”

Pep Guardiola issued an apology to Phillips but admitted he struggles to visualise the midfielder in his starting XI

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Pep Guardiola issued an apology to Phillips but admitted he struggles to visualise the midfielder in his starting XICredit: Sky Sports
The City boss is hoping his side put Wednesday's defeat at Aston Villa behind them when they travel to Luton on Sunday

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The City boss is hoping his side put Wednesday’s defeat at Aston Villa behind them when they travel to Luton on SundayCredit: Getty

talkSPORT reported in November that Phillips could be the subject of a four-way transfer battle in January.

City could find themselves nine-points adrift of leaders Arsenal by the time they kick off at Kenilworth Road Sunday.

The Treble winners are without a win in four Premier League games but Guardiola believes his side’s recent drop in form could turn out to be a positive for City in the long run.

“As a manager, I sometimes need that challenge. I think for everyone in the club, it’s good what we are living,” he added. “I think it’s necessary to live that.

“For a long time, [it was about] how good we are, like a cat [being stroked]. And maybe we need to say it’s terrible. It’s all beautiful and now we are not able to win one game.

“Maybe for myself first, I need that challenge to prove I’m a good manager to lift the players and hope for them to overcome that situation. For the players, it’s a good challenge, to say: Aston Villa were miles better than all of us.”

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