Revealed: Former Manchester City star consoled Kalvin Phillips following Sheffield United red card | OneFootball

Two of Manchester City’s former players reunited in the dressing room at Bramall Lane on Sunday afternoon during Sheffield United’s win over Sheffield Wednesday.

It was an afternoon packed with emotion in the Steel City Derby, as Sheffield United edged out their rivals 2-1 to confirm Wednesday’s relegation to League One, but for an on-loan Manchester City midfielder, the celebrations were bittersweet.

Kalvin Phillips – who remains contracted to Manchester City – endured a nightmare moment shortly after the restart when he was shown a straight red card for a high challenge, leaving his side to navigate the remainder of the contest with 10 men.

The dismissal was a blow for the 30-year-old, who had been steadily rebuilding confidence since arriving at Bramall Lane during the January transfer window in search of more consistent match minutes.

Phillips’ time at the Etihad Stadium has been punctuated by frustration, spending the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at West Ham in a stint that failed to spark the revival he hoped for. A subsequent season-long switch to Ipswich offered more regular involvement, but upon returning to Manchester last summer, he again found himself on the fringes.

His latest move to Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United represented another attempt to rediscover rhythm in the Championship – a division where he previously thrived earlier in his career.

And following the 2-1 victory that relegated their city rivals into the third tier of English football, Wilder revealed that former Manchester City captain and boyhood Sheffield United fan Kyle Walker consoled Kalvin Phillips in the dressing room after his red card in the derby.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen him not smile because he’s been smiling for the last two weeks,” said Wilder. “So, that’s disappointing for him getting [trying to get] into a rhythm because you see the quality that he possesses.”

Wilder continued by revealing, “Kyle Walker’s down in the changing room with him. Rhian Brewster is down in the changing room. That’s the type of club that we are. They love him to bits, we love him to bits. I’m disappointed.”

Kyle Walker’s presence was a reminder of the bonds forged during his trophy-laden spell at City, where he and Phillips briefly shared a dressing room. Paying a visit to his home city, the experienced defender ensured his former teammate was not left to process the setback alone.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sheffield United held on for a crucial win that lifted them into mid-table and kept faint hopes of a late push alive. For Phillips, however, attention will quickly turn to the three-match suspension that follows a straight red card.

The challenge now is mental as much as physical, and having spoken openly about his desire to simply play and enjoy football again, Kalvin Phillips must use the enforced break to reset before returning to action.