Kalvin loan hell comes to a close

KALVIN Phillips has returned to Manchester City following his ill-fated loan spell with West Ham.

The 28-year-old is currently sidelined by a calf injury, but would have been ineligible to face his parent club on the final day of the season anyway.

Phillips joined the Hammers in January, having failed to get in the City side on a regular basis, in a bid to cement his place in the England squad for Euro 2024.

But the midfielder’s form was so poor that he was overlooked by Gareth Southgate for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March.

Phillips gifted Bournemouth a goal on his debut with virtually his first touch in a Hammers shirt, made another error leading to a Manchester United goal on his second appearance, and was sent off at Nottingham Forest two weeks later.

In March, Phillips came off the bench with West Ham leading 3-1 at Newcastle and gave away the penalty which sparked a late comeback from the hosts.

After that 4-3 defeat, which dealt a major blow to West Ham’s European hopes, he was pictured raising his middle finger towards an abusive supporter. The former Leeds man then suffered a calf injury in training after kicking the sole of a team-mate’s boot.

Phillips, who made just three starts in all competitions for the Hammers, will continue his rehabilitation with City.