Kalvin Phillips told talkSPORT that ‘everybody’ in England’s changing room was ‘gutted’ when Liverpool defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold, was ruled out of Euro 2020.
The Leeds United midfielder was present, both on and off the field, as Liverpool’s academy product suffered a thigh injury in England’s international friendly against Austria this week.
Initially, all the talk was about whether Liverpool’s attack-minded fullback would make Gareth Southgate’s 26-man cut in the first place.
Not only did the Liverpool man make it, but perhaps to the surprise of many, he was selected alongside three other right-backs.
Nonetheless, Leeds’ very own academy product shared the reaction in the dressing room to Trent’s injury and the messages they exchanged with one another.
“I think with Trent, he’s obviously going to be gutted, especially with everything that’s been going on around him throughout the season,” said Phillips.
“Everybody in the changing room, all the lads are gutted for him. All we can do is wish him well and wish him a speedy recovery.
“I do hope that Trent takes it well and, hopefully, he can start pre-season well and just get a good season under his belt then be involved in the next camp.
On talking with him: “It was just more of ‘how it’s feeling?’. ‘What do you think it is?’ I never seen him after it got announced that he was leaving. Of course, sent a few messages to him through the chat and it was just well wishes and speedy recovery messages.”
On one hand, it’s a body blow for Alexander-Arnold because he was hoping to be part of an England team tipped to go pretty far at this tournament.
But from Liverpool’s perspective, after an injury-hit campaign, they will have their centre-backs, goalkeeper and right-back, all fit, fresh and firing for next season.
That’s perhaps the selfish perspective. But Trent needs to look at the positive and that’s the fact that he will have plenty more chances of participating in major tournaments during these coming years.
It’s just a case of getting ahead of a plethora of right-sided fullbacks, who are all vying for that number one England spot.
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