PEP GUARDIOLA believes England midfielder Kalvin Phillips is on course to make the World Cup.
Phillips will make his comeback for Manchester City after a shoulder injury this week.
And City boss Guardiola also gave a positive Qatar update on the fitness of Kyle Walker, with the defender making fast progress from groin surgery.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate announces his 26-man squad on Thursday and was at the Etihad to watch City’s win over Fulham.
And Guardiola said: “Kalvin is feeling really better. He trained with us yesterday for the second day, full session, full contact and will be involved for the Chelsea game in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
“Maybe on the bench, but he will be there.
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“Kyle, too, is feeling much better. He had his surgery after Kalvin so maybe not so far ahead as Kalvin, but he is feeling fine.”
The morale-boosting news for Southgate came just hours after Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Blues team-mate Reece James is also sidelined with a knee injury.
Scans confirmed Chilwell tore his left hamstring against Dinamo Zagreb last Wednesday.
The left-back tweeted: “Following my ACL injury I worked so hard to make sure I was ready for the World Cup.
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“It has always been a dream of mine.
“Unfortunately, this won’t be possible following my scan results.
“I’ll do all I can to get back playing for Chelsea ASAP.”
That means Arsenal’s versatile Ben White is poised for a World Cup comeback to ease England’s defensive crisis.
The Gunners defender was part of the Euro 2020 squad but was not selected for September’s Nations League games.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is also tipped for inclusion on Thursday.
White has been a revelation on the right side of the Gunners’ defence this season and could also play in defensive midfield.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “He is really enjoying it. He finds himself with a bit of freedom and you can see, when he has space, how he likes to attack. He is happy there.
“He is very gifted. If you tell him to play in midfield, he will.”
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin limped off with a hamstring injury in the 2-0 home defeat to Leicester in yesterday’s late kick-off.
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Toffees boss Frank Lampard said: “It was a sensation in the hamstring. We don’t feel like it is a bad injury but we just have to wait for the scan.”
In theory, Southgate could name a number of injured players in his squad on Thursday and then wait for the latest updates on their condition before finalising the list four days later on Fifa’s deadline day.
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