Kalvin Phillips has been left out of the Man City squad against Liverpool after returning from the World Cup with England OVERWEIGHT

KALVIN PHILLIPS has been left out of the Manchester City squad after returning OVERWEIGHT from the World Cup in Qatar.

And the 27-year-old England midfielder faces a struggle to convince Pep Guardiola he is ready for Wednesday’s Premier League trip to his former club Leeds.

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Boss Pep said: “He is not injured. He arrived overweight. I do not know why.

“He didn’t come in the condition to train and play. That’s why he can’t play. When he’s ready, he’ll play because we need him, we need him a lot.”

Phillips was given ten days off following the Three Lions’ 2-1 quarter-final defeat by France.

But when he returned to the Etihad campus on Wednesday, he was not in the right shape.

He was left out of the squad for the Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool – despite his four England team-mates all being on the bench.

Guardiola didn’t blame the English camp for his player’s condition – suggesting the fault could lie with Phillips.

Asked if he was disappointed with his £42million summer signing, Guardiola said: “It’s a private conversation with Kalvin.”

Phillips made two appearances at the World Cup – against Wales and Senegal.

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Guardiola warned on Wednesday that he was curious to see whether his World Cup stars would return “fit or fat”.

Phillips struggled to get regular football in his first few weeks at City and then suffered a dislocated shoulder in September.

The Man City boss wants him to create competition in midfield but so far his chances have been slim.

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