‘Going to be difficult’: Micah Richards thinks one Leeds player will have an uphill task

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Speaking on the Match of the Day Top 10 Podcast, Micah Richards has been discussing England’s midfield options and Kalvin Phillips.

Richards was in the middle of a discussion about James Ward-Prowse as the Match of the Day lads attempted to rank the 10 greatest set-piece takers in Premier League history.

Inevitably, this discussion eventually sparked a debate about Ward-Prowse’s international hopes, and Richards believes he has a great chance of going to the World Cup, claiming that it will be difficult for Kalvin Phillips to reclaim his spot due to his injury issues.

What’s been said?

Richards spoke about Phillips’ situation and England’s midfield.

“Phillips has been injured, Bellingham, Rice and Ward-Prowse they’re the ones I’d be looking at. Phillips when he’s back obviously, but Phillips has been injured all year, so it’s going to be difficult. Ward-Prowse is so consistent and so underrated, we talk about his free-kicks, but look at his all-around game and it’s brilliant, he’s Southampton’s best player almost every week,” Richards said.

Southgate favourite

Richards says that it will be hard for Phillips to get his spot back in the England team, but let’s not forget just how much Gareth Southgate loves the Yorkshire Pirlo.

He played in every single game at Euro 2020, and he was even the England Player of the Year last year.

Phillips is genuinely one of Southgate’s most trusted midfielders, and while the likes of Bellingham and Ward-Prowse have claims to stake, it’s hard to see Phillips being just discarded like that.