Man City's forgotten man set to receive a seventh winners' medal after just 921 minutes
Manchester City's Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal could see Kalvin Phillips collect yet another winners' medal despite barely playing for the club.
City beat the Premier League leaders 2-0 at Wembley Stadium, with Nico O'Reilly bagging a brace to give Pep Guardiola his fifth Carabao Cup and avoid a second consecutive season without a trophy.
The Blues turned things on and dominated in the second half, with England star O'Reilly notching two headers minutes apart at the far post.
City won the League Cup for the ninth time, with Bernardo Silva lifting silverware as captain for the very first time.
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A whole host of players proudly collected their medals in the Royal Box, including City's starting eleven and eight substitutes.
However, as per EFL rules, City will also have another 10 medals as they receive a total of 30 - with an option for more if they make a request.
EFL rule 20.2 on the awarding of medals states: "In addition to the Cup, the Management Committee shall present thirty souvenirs to the winning Club in the Final Tie; and thirty souvenirs to the losing Club in the Final Tie. Additional souvenirs may be presented with the consent of the Management Committee but shall be at the cost of the requesting Club."
January signing Marc Guehi was on the pitch for the celebrations but is not eligible for a medal because he did not join before City's semi-final first leg, but the likes of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, Rico Lewis and Max Alleyne are.
Remarkably, the rule also stretches to Phillips, who played just seven minutes in the third round against Huddersfield back in September.
The England international returned in the summer after a loan with Ipswich Town and made his first City appearance in 645 days. He joined Sheffield United for his third loan spell in February for the remainder of the season but could still get a winners medal sent over.
The former Leeds United man has already won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup but is poised to win his seventh major trophy with City despite playing just 32 times and managing 921 minutes overall.
Fellow loanee Divine Mukasa is also an option to receive a medal, as are fellow youngsters Kaden Brathwaite, Stephen Mfuni and Jaden and Reigan Heskey, who both came on alongside Phillips against Huddersfield.
A £42.5 million signing in 2022, Phillips still has a contract with City until 2028 and is reported to earn £150,000-a-week.
Topics: Manchester City, Carabao Cup, Arsenal
Josh Lawless