Pep Guardiola believes summer signing Kalvin Phillips will have plenty of opportunities to contribute to Manchester City's on-field efforts this season, despite not featuring in the Community Shield on Saturday.
Phillips was an unused substitute as City lost 3-1 to Liverpool at Leicester's King Power Stadium, the second year in a row that the Blues have lost the showpiece fixture.
Jurgen Klopp's side took a first-half lead through Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected effort, before Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez secured victory after Julian Alvarez's equaliser.
Guardiola brought on Alvarez, Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan to try and turn the game in City's favour, but he opted to leave Phillips on the bench.
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When asked about his decision after the game, the manager insisted that the 26-year-old will see his fair share of minutes this season.
"He has confidence, he can play, he is ready to play," Guardiola said. "He arrived just two weeks [ago]. We have Rodri, Bernardo [Silva], Gundogan and they know [City’s style] - but step by step he will get it. He’s an incredibly nice person. The season is long - many games - and he is going to help us."
Phillips came off the bench in both of City's pre-season matches in the United States, a 2-1 defeat of Club America and a 1-0 win against Bayern Munich.
In both he showed not only his quality but his versatility and exemplary attitude by playing multiple positions. Against the Mexican side he slotted in at centre-back before moving back into midfield, while against Bayern he played as a holding midfielder alongside Rodri and then further forward in a number eight role.
Such willingness to play wherever he is needed will serve him well going forward as he looks to assert himself as a go-to option for Guardiola, if not a regular starter.
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