Kalvin Phillips started as Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United were held to a Championship draw by Derby County at Elland Road.
Danny Murphy believes Kalvin Phillips has ‘a bit of everything’ after watching the Leeds United talisman in action during Saturday’s 1-1 Championship draw with Derby County at Elland Road, speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (23 September, 10am).
How Leeds didn’t beat Phillip Cocu’s side on the lunchtime kick off is anyone’s guess. Marcelo Bielsa’s league-leaders were dominant throughout, creating chance after chance and controlling 63 per cent of the possession.
But after Mateusz Klich rolled a casual penalty wide of the post, Chris Martin made Leeds pay for their profligacy with a dramatic, and barely deserved, 91st minute equaliser.
There were still plenty of positives to be taken out of a third straight home draw, however, with Phillips producing the sort of masterful midfield performance that is quickly becoming his trademark.
And Murphy, the former Liverpool and Tottenham man, was impressed by a man who appears to have the world at his feet.
“I’m surprised he’s still there. He’s got a bit of everything, he’s calm, tenacious, good passer of the ball. He plays his role well,” Murphy said.
“Really good player. If they don’t go up this year, and I hope they do, I’d be amazed if he didn’t leave.”
Phillips signed a new five-year deal with his boyhood club recently and while that appeared to be a real coup given the amount of Premier League interest over the summer, Murphy believes this is a classic case of a club ‘protecting their asset’.
Phillips might have come through the ranks at Leeds, but if he wants to fulfil his massive potential and perhaps even force his way into the England squad, he needs to play at the top level sooner rather than later.
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