Kalvin Phillips is on the PR rounds to promote his new documentary, and is opening up on his difficult first season at Manchester City.
He has addressed Pep Guardiola's comments from December that he returned from the World Cup 'overweight', and honestly revealed the emotional strain that his struggles had over the course of the campaign. He also referred to Jack Grealish as his 'inspiration' in making a success of a second season following an underwhelming 12 months.
That is easier said than done, though, with Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva all ahead of Phillips in midfield.
For now, his best route to starting more games for City will be the 'less important' games in order to give Rodri a rest. And luckily, City's schedule presents plenty of opportunities to play before or after the fixtures that will define their success across seven competitions.
ALSO READ: "He's my inspiration" - Phillips plots Grealish-style comeback at City
For the first month of the season, City have three free midweeks and a relatively-straightforward Premier League schedule. Phillips may find it tough to start many games in August, although the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla could mean that Rodri is prioritised for that midweek trip to Greece over the Premier League opener against Burnley and the first home game against Newcastle.
After the September international break, the Champions League begins either side of a trip to West Ham and a visit of Nottingham Forest, and later in the month between trips to Wolves and Arsenal. Depending on who City draw in Europe, then Phillips could help Rodri rest for a clash with, say Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid or one of the Milan sides.
The Carabao Cup third round late in September could also be a chance for Phillips to start before October also has two Champions League games - both followed by trips to Manchester United and Chelsea - and a potential Carabao Cup fourth-round tie. That cup tie, and following home clash with Bournemouth could also be avenues for Phillips to play.
After the November international break sees two final Champions League fixtures, six guaranteed Premier League games, and also the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. After Christmas, if City are still in the Carabao Cup, there will be a quarter-final to fit in somewhere, before a two-legged semi-final in January, plus the start of the FA Cup defence.
Assuming the Carabao Cup campaign continues into the new year, City will play twice a week from the end of November to the start of February (excluding one mid-season break of a week). With key Premier League games, two domestic cups, the Club World Cup and Champions League group games, there will surely be opportunities for Phillips to play that will give Rodri more rest than he got last season.
If he gets those chances, he will have the opportunity to kick on as he wants to and show City what he's learned over the last 12 months. There should be no shortage of games to play if City are challenging on four fronts (plus the three invitational cups they are competing for), so then it will be up to Phillips to put his money where his mouth is.
