Midfielder was almost gym and chronic...

Kalvin's lucky injury escape

- MARK MANN-BRYANS

KALVIN Phillips has revealed his successful battle to be fit for the World Cup was almost scuppered after he dropped a weight on his foot in the gym last week.

The Manchester City midfielder underwent shoulder surgery in September before putting himself through gruelling double sessions in order to make England's squad for Qatar.

While Phillips had played just 14 minutes of competitive football before Gareth Southgate's squad announcement, he made the cut and jetted out to the Middle East with his 25 team-mates last week.

"My shoulder is fine now. I had the operation about seven and a half weeks ago," he said.