Injury threatens to prematurely end Kalvin Phillips’ season at West Ham United, casting doubt on his loan spell from Manchester City. The 28-year-old midfielder has made 10 appearances for David Moyes’ side since joining in January, but an unspecified injury could see him return to City for treatment. The decision on where Phillips will undergo his rehabilitation is still under discussion between the two clubs’ medical departments. Unfortunately, Phillips will miss West Ham’s final three games, including the match against his parent club on May 19.
Phillips arrived at the London Stadium in search of regular first-team football but has only managed three starts across all competitions. His loan spell has not been without controversy either, as he was involved in an incident with a supporter after the defeat to Newcastle United in March. In a video that went viral, Phillips was seen showing his middle finger to a fan who had called him “useless” while he was boarding the team bus.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Moyes has expressed his support for Phillips and emphasized the importance of backing all players. “Kalvin’s a human being and what he needs is support and people to help him, which is what we’ll do,” Moyes said. “We need our fans to give all our players the support they require. Kalvin’s a really good player and I do believe we can still make something out of the time we’ve got with him here.”
In terms of his international prospects, Phillips has 31 caps for England and will be hoping to be included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024, provided he recovers from his injury in time. The national team manager is set to announce his squad later this month.
As for West Ham, they currently sit ninth in the Premier League standings. With Phillips’ loan spell potentially coming to an end, the club faces important decisions regarding their manager and transfers. It is crucial for them to present a clear and unified message as they navigate the challenges of the upcoming transfer window.