Kalvin Phillips has won the EFL Young Player of the Month award for October.
Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips takes a corner
Former Leeds United defender and current EFL Director of Youth Development David Wetherall has told the EFL’s official website that he’s looking forward to seeing Kalvin Phillips.
Leeds have enjoyed great success with their youth academy in recent years, with the likes of Sam Byram, Charlie Taylor, Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt featuring in the last 18 months – and a new crop of young stars are coming through as well.
Lewie Coyle, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Ronaldo Vieira and Tyler Denton have all made their first starts for the club in 2016, and midfielder Kalvin Phillips is now becoming a first-team regular too.
The 20-year-old was first brought into the Leeds side by former boss Neil Redfearn in April 2015, but played just ten games last season, meaning he really had to kick on under new manager Garry Monk.
Phillips has done just that, starting 11 Championship games and making five substitute appearances as well, even notching a goal to his name along the way too.
Blackburn’s Hope Akpan and Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips in action
The midfielder may have struggled in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, but Phillips is having an impact in the Leeds side – and his performances of late meant that he was named EFL Young Player of the Month for October.
After presenting Phillips with his award, EFL Director of Youth Development David Wetherall – a former Elland Road hero having made more than 200 appearances for the club in the 1990’s – offered his comments on the midfielder.
Kasey Palmer of Huddersfield Town in action with Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United
Wetherall told the EFL’s official website that he felt Phillips had an ‘excellent’ month, whilst remarking that he is continuing Leeds’ superb record with young players, and he can’t wait to see him develop even more in the coming years.
“Kalvin has had an excellent month with his form playing a major part in the good run of the team,” said Wetherall. “He continues the excellent player production record of the Leeds United academy and I look forward to seeing him develop further in the future,” he added.
What did you think of Phillips’ performances in October?
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