Pep Guardiola has accused Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips of returning from his World Cup “overweight” and unable to train.

When asked why the injury-prone 27-year-old wasn’t even on the bench for Thursday’s League Cup win over holders Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, City manager Guardiola was at first vague.

Following their 3-2 victory over Liverpool in the League Cup, Guardiola said: “He’s not injured. He arrived overweight. I don’t know (why). He didn’t arrive in the condition to do training sessions and to play.”

City had 16 players on international duty at the World Cup, which was more than any other Premier League club, and they were all given time off when they were done. For Phillips, this happened after England lost to France in the quarter-finals.

“When he will be ready he will play, because we need him, we need him a lot,” said Guardiola, who added he had “absolutely” no issue with England’s training regime.

Asked if he was disappointed, the Spanish boss replied: “It’s a private conversation with Kalvin”.

City resume their Premier League title defence away to Phillips’ former club Leeds on Wednesday.

Photo by EPA/NEIL HALL