Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson has rubbished any suggestions of one-time Elland Road idol Kalvin Phillips returning to the club.
The Lowdown: Agbonlahor’s claim
The midfielder moved to Manchester City over the summer but has struggled for game-time under Pep Guardiola. The 26-year-old has played just 13 competitive minutes at the Etihad Stadium this season and now looks set for a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
His slow start to life in Manchester led to Gabby Agbonlahor claiming last week that Phillips should be loaned back to Elland Road, and Robinson has been giving his thoughts on the former Aston Villa striker's suggestion.
The Latest: Robinson’s comments
Talking to MOT Leeds News, the 42-year-old - who also contributes for Sky Sports - had this to say on Phillips and a potential return to Elland Road in light of Agbonlahor's comments:
“For him personally, it’s a new challenge and a new step. He’s got off to a slow start but you don’t judge him at the first sign of trouble.
“He’s a fantastic player and he’s not even had an opportunity at Manchester City. He’s had a couple of niggling injuries and that’s stopped him from the opportunity to keep going.
“You don’t go to a club of that size and after three or four weeks decide it’s not working and go back again.
“He’s a player of huge ability and huge quality and it’s only a matter of time before he makes his mark on that Man City team.
“He’s against one of the best players in the world – Rodri – to get into that team and with the way they play, there’s only room for one of them. Kalvin will get in that team eventually.
“There’s an option for him to play in a three at the back, there’s an option for him to play in midfield. But he’s part of a huge squad so there’s no way in the world he should be considering going back to Leeds.
“He’s earned himself that fantastic move and it will come to fruition at some point.”
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The Verdict: Not happening
It is a shame to see that Phillips’ move to the Etihad hasn’t worked out so far, but it looks as if injury has played a big part in his absence instead of being snubbed by Guardiola.
Hopefully the 26-year-old will return in good time for the World Cup and duly break into the Man City team regularly during the second half of the season.
A move back to Elland Road could well materialise towards the end of his career, but for the immediate future, we’re with Robinson in believing that the midfielder should be focusing solely on impressing in Manchester.