Phillips retired from his long and successful playing career at the end of the 2013/14 campaign after claiming a fifth promotion to the Premier League, and is now fully focused on helping Nigel Pearson’s side stay there for the long-term.
Speaking exclusively to LCFC.com, Phillips said: “I’ve put on my first training session and it was a bit strange not joining in. I was tempted to, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope the lads enjoyed it. Now that that one is out of the way, hopefully there are many more to come.
“I’m here to work with the strikers and I really enjoyed our first session, it was very sharp. All I want is hard work from the lads and to listen. They’ve done that for me.
“We’re looking very good. I think all the coaching staff, the medical department and the sports science department are really pleased with the way the lads have reported back, and that’s to be expected.
“It’s an exciting time, and the majority of players here have never experienced the Premier League. So naturally they’re going to want to impress by getting fit and staying fit.”
Having scored 30 times for Sunderland in his debut Premier League season, Phillips certainly knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed at the top level, and from a coaching standpoint, he’s looking to pass on that expertise to the current crop of City stars.
He added: “Over my career I’ve worked under 21 managers and taken part in thousands of sessions. I’ve thought about it over the summer, and being a striker I want to put on sessions that are relevant to a match situation.
“I want to put stuff on that they enjoy, and I know what they enjoy and don’t enjoy. But the ones that you don’t enjoy, you’ve got to try and make it a bit different, and if you do that you’ll get a good session.
“There are loads of things going through my head and it’s totally different to turning up as a player, doing your job and going home. It’s hard work, but I’m enjoying it.
“Now it’s about getting our strikers in tip top condition with the campaign coming up. Hopefully they can be the difference between winning and losing games.”