Pep Guardiola has been handed a big boost ahead of Manchester City's Premier League game against Newcastle United on Sunday, with Kalvin Phillips now back in training after an injury issue.

The midfielder,  who signed from Leeds United this summer, missed the clash against Bournemouth through injury but returned to training in midweek and is available for the trip to St James' Park.

Guardiola confirmed in his pre-match conference that both Phillips and Cole Palmer would be available to face the Toon after missing the 4-0 win against the Cherries, while Aymeric Laporte is still sidelined.

While Phillips started the first game of the Premier League season on the bench, Guardiola is likely to rotate between the England international and Rodri throughout the season, and it surely won't be long until we see him make his first start as a City player.

The 26-year-old made just 20 league appearances for Leeds United last season after an injury-afflicted campaign, so City supporters may well have feared the worst when he was left out against Scott Parker's side last weekend.

However, it seems now that the injury was a minor one, and City will be hoping to see the England midfielder replicate the form that he showed for Leeds in the 2020/21 campaign, when he first caught the eye as a Premier League player as he averaged a 7.01 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Newcastle promises to be a tough game, with the Magpies having been in superb form ever since Eddie Howe was appointed manager last November, steering the Toon to an 11th-placed finish after taking over with the club winless and in the relegation zone.

Therefore, Guardiola could be tempted to deploy a double pivot of Rodri and Phillips rather than a more attacking option such as Ilkay Gunogan in midfield.

He must be delighted that the England international is back fit and available for the trip to St James' Park as City look to make it three wins from three in the Premier League.